Bill Text: CA AB1456 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Crimes: sentencing.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - Died at Desk. [AB1456 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB1456-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1456 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Thurmond
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
An act to amend Section 1170 of the Penal Code, relating to
criminal punishment.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1456, as introduced, Thurmond. Crimes: sentencing.
Existing law generally requires that felonies punishable by
imprisonment in a county jail be punished either by the term
described in the underlying offense or by a term of 16 months, or 2
or 3 years if the term is not specified. Existing law requires an
executed sentence for these felonies to be punished in state prison
if the defendant has a prior or current felony conviction for a
serious or violent felony, is required to register as a sex offender,
or is convicted of a crime for which the white collar crime
enhancement is imposed as part of the sentence.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that
provision.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 1170 of the Penal Code, as amended by Section 1
of Chapter 612 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:
1170. (a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares that the purpose
of imprisonment for crime is punishment. This purpose is best served
by terms proportionate to the seriousness of the offense with
provision for uniformity in the sentences of offenders committing the
same offense under similar circumstances. The Legislature further
finds and declares that the elimination of disparity and the
provision of uniformity of sentences can best be achieved by
determinate sentences fixed by statute in proportion to the
seriousness of the offense as determined by the Legislature to be
imposed by the court with specified discretion.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Legislature further finds
and declares that programs should be available for inmates,
including, but not limited to, educational programs, that are
designed to prepare nonviolent felony offenders for successful
reentry into the community. The Legislature encourages the
development of policies and programs designed to educate and
rehabilitate nonviolent felony offenders. In implementing this
section, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is
encouraged to give priority enrollment in programs to promote
successful return to the community to an inmate with a short
remaining term of commitment and a release date that would allow him
or her adequate time to complete the program.
(3) In any case in which the punishment prescribed by statute for
a person convicted of a public offense is a term of imprisonment in
the state prison of any specification of three time periods, the
court shall sentence the defendant to one of the terms of
imprisonment specified unless the convicted person is given any other
disposition provided by law, including a fine, jail, probation, or
the suspension of imposition or execution of sentence or is sentenced
pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1168 because he or she had
committed his or her crime prior to July 1, 1977. In sentencing the
convicted person, the court shall apply the sentencing rules of the
Judicial Council. The court, unless it determines that there are
circumstances in mitigation of the punishment prescribed, shall also
impose any other term that it is required by law to impose as an
additional term. Nothing in this article shall affect any
provision of law that imposes the death penalty, that
authorizes or restricts the granting of probation or suspending the
execution or imposition of sentence, or expressly provides for
imprisonment in the state prison for life, except as provided in
paragraph (2) of subdivision (d). In any case in which the amount of
preimprisonment credit under Section 2900.5 or any other
provision of law is equal to or exceeds any
a sentence imposed pursuant to this chapter, the
entire sentence shall be deemed to have been served and the
defendant shall not be actually delivered to the custody of the
secretary. The court shall advise the defendant that he or she shall
serve a period of parole and order the defendant to report to the
parole office closest to the defendant's last legal residence, unless
the in-custody credits equal the total sentence, including both
confinement time and the period of parole. The sentence shall be
deemed a separate prior prison term under Section 667.5, and a copy
of the judgment and other necessary documentation shall be forwarded
to the secretary.
(b) When If a judgment of
imprisonment is to be imposed and the statute specifies three
possible terms, the choice of the appropriate term shall
rest rests within the sound discretion of the
court. At least four days prior to the time set for imposition of
judgment, either party or the victim, or the family of the victim if
the victim is deceased, may submit a statement in aggravation or
mitigation. In determining the appropriate term, the court may
consider the record in the case, the probation officer's report,
other reports, including reports received pursuant to Section
1203.03, and statements in aggravation or mitigation submitted by the
prosecution, the defendant, or the victim, or the family of the
victim if the victim is deceased, and any further evidence introduced
at the sentencing hearing. The court shall select the term which, in
the court's discretion, best serves the interests of justice. The
court shall set forth on the record the reasons for imposing the term
selected and the court may not impose an upper term by using the
fact of any enhancement upon which sentence is imposed under any
provision of law. A term of imprisonment shall not
be specified if imposition of sentence is suspended.
(c) The court shall state the reasons for its sentence choice on
the record at the time of sentencing. The court shall also inform the
defendant that as part of the sentence after expiration of the term
he or she may be on parole for a period as provided in Section 3000.
(d) (1) When If a defendant subject
to this section or subdivision (b) of Section 1168 has been sentenced
to be imprisoned in the state prison and has been committed to the
custody of the secretary, the court may, within 120 days of the date
of commitment on its own motion, or at any time upon the
recommendation of the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings,
recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and resentence
the defendant in the same manner as if he or she had not previously
been sentenced, provided the new sentence, if any, is no greater than
the initial sentence. The court resentencing under this subdivision
shall apply the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council so as to
eliminate disparity of sentences and to promote uniformity of
sentencing. Credit shall be given for time served.
(2) (A) (i) When a defendant who was under 18 years of age at the
time of the commission of the offense for which the defendant was
sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole
has served at least 15 years of that sentence, the defendant may
submit to the sentencing court a petition for recall and
resentencing.
(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), this paragraph shall not apply to
defendants sentenced to life without parole for an offense where the
defendant tortured, as described in Section 206, his or her victim
or the victim was a public safety official, including any law
enforcement personnel mentioned in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with
Section 830) of Title 3, or any firefighter as described in Section
245.1, as well as any other officer in any segment of law enforcement
who is employed by the federal government, the state, or any of its
political subdivisions.
(B) The defendant shall file the original petition with the
sentencing court. A copy of the petition shall be served on the
agency that prosecuted the case. The petition shall include the
defendant's statement that he or she was under 18 years of age at the
time of the crime and was sentenced to life in prison without the
possibility of parole, the defendant's statement describing his or
her remorse and work towards rehabilitation, and the defendant's
statement that one of the following is true:
(i) The defendant was convicted pursuant to felony murder or
aiding and abetting murder provisions of law.
(ii) The defendant does not have juvenile felony adjudications for
assault or other felony crimes with a significant potential for
personal harm to victims prior to the offense for which the sentence
is being considered for recall.
(iii) The defendant committed the offense with at least one adult
codefendant.
(iv) The defendant has performed acts that tend to indicate
rehabilitation or the potential for rehabilitation, including, but
not limited to, availing himself or herself of rehabilitative,
educational, or vocational programs, if those programs have been
available at his or her classification level and facility, using
self-study for self-improvement, or showing evidence of remorse.
(C) If any of the information required in subparagraph (B) is
missing from the petition, or if proof of service on the prosecuting
agency is not provided, the court shall return the petition to the
defendant and advise the defendant that the matter cannot be
considered without the missing information.
(D) A reply to the petition, if any, shall be filed with the court
within 60 days of the date on which the prosecuting agency was
served with the petition, unless a continuance is granted for good
cause.
(E) If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the
statements in the petition are true, the court shall hold a hearing
to consider whether to recall the sentence and commitment previously
ordered and to resentence the defendant in the same manner as if the
defendant had not previously been sentenced, provided that the new
sentence, if any, is not greater than the initial sentence. Victims,
or victim family members if the victim is deceased, shall retain the
rights to participate in the hearing.
(F) The factors that the court may consider when determining
whether to recall and resentence include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(i) The defendant was convicted pursuant to felony murder or
aiding and abetting murder provisions of law.
(ii) The defendant does not have juvenile felony adjudications for
assault or other felony crimes with a significant potential for
personal harm to victims prior to the offense for which the sentence
is being considered for recall.
(iii) The defendant committed the offense with at least one adult
codefendant.
(iv) Prior to the offense for which the sentence is being
considered for recall, the defendant had insufficient adult support
or supervision and had suffered from psychological or physical
trauma, or significant stress.
(v) The defendant suffers from cognitive limitations due to mental
illness, developmental disabilities, or other factors that did not
constitute a defense, but influenced the defendant's involvement in
the offense.
(vi) The defendant has performed acts that tend to indicate
rehabilitation or the potential for rehabilitation, including, but
not limited to, availing himself or herself of rehabilitative,
educational, or vocational programs, if those programs have been
available at his or her classification level and facility, using
self-study for self-improvement, or showing evidence of remorse.
(vii) The defendant has maintained family ties or connections with
others through letter writing, calls, or visits, or has eliminated
contact with individuals outside of prison who are currently involved
with crime.
(viii) The defendant has had no disciplinary actions for violent
activities in the last five years in which the defendant was
determined to be the aggressor.
(G) The court shall have the discretion to recall the sentence and
commitment previously ordered and to resentence the defendant in the
same manner as if the defendant had not previously been sentenced,
provided that the new sentence, if any, is not greater than the
initial sentence. The discretion of the court shall be exercised in
consideration of the criteria in subparagraph (B). Victims, or victim
family members if the victim is deceased, shall be notified of the
resentencing hearing and shall retain their rights to participate in
the hearing.
(H) If the sentence is not recalled, the defendant may submit
another petition for recall and resentencing to the sentencing court
when the defendant has been committed to the custody of the
department for at least 20 years. If recall and resentencing is not
granted under that petition, the defendant may file another petition
after having served 24 years. The final petition may be submitted,
and the response to that petition shall be determined, during the
25th year of the defendant's sentence.
(I) In addition to the criteria in subparagraph (F), the court may
consider any other criteria that the court deems relevant to its
decision, so long as the court identifies them on the record,
provides a statement of reasons for adopting them, and states why the
defendant does or does not satisfy the criteria.
(J) This subdivision shall have retroactive application.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding any other law and consistent with
paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), if the secretary or the Board of
Parole Hearings or both determine that a prisoner satisfies the
criteria set forth in paragraph (2), the secretary or the board may
recommend to the court that the prisoner's sentence be recalled.
(2) The court shall have the discretion to resentence or recall if
the court finds that the facts described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B) or subparagraphs (B) and (C) exist:
(A) The prisoner is terminally ill with an incurable condition
caused by an illness or disease that would produce death within six
months, as determined by a physician employed by the department.
(B) The conditions under which the prisoner would be released or
receive treatment do not pose a threat to public safety.
(C) The prisoner is permanently medically incapacitated with a
medical condition that renders him or her permanently unable to
perform activities of basic daily living, and results in the prisoner
requiring 24-hour total care, including, but not limited to, coma,
persistent vegetative state, brain death, ventilator-dependency, loss
of control of muscular or neurological function, and that
incapacitation did not exist at the time of the original sentencing.
The Board of Parole Hearings shall make findings pursuant to this
subdivision before making a recommendation for resentence or recall
to the court. This subdivision does not apply to a prisoner sentenced
to death or a term of life without the possibility of parole.
(3) Within 10 days of receipt of a positive recommendation by the
secretary or the board, the court shall hold a hearing to consider
whether the prisoner's sentence should be recalled.
(4) Any A physician employed by the
department who determines that a prisoner has six months or less to
live shall notify the chief medical officer of the prognosis. If the
chief medical officer concurs with the prognosis, he or she shall
notify the warden. Within 48 hours of receiving notification, the
warden or the warden's representative shall notify the prisoner of
the recall and resentencing procedures, and shall arrange for the
prisoner to designate a family member or other outside agent to be
notified as to the prisoner's medical condition and prognosis, and as
to the recall and resentencing procedures. If the inmate is deemed
mentally unfit, the warden or the warden's representative shall
contact the inmate's emergency contact and provide the information
described in paragraph (2).
(5) The warden or the warden's representative shall provide the
prisoner and his or her family member, agent, or emergency contact,
as described in paragraph (4), updated information throughout the
recall and resentencing process with regard to the prisoner's medical
condition and the status of the prisoner's recall and resentencing
proceedings.
(6) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the
prisoner or his or her family member or designee may independently
request consideration for recall and resentencing by contacting the
chief medical officer at the prison or the secretary. Upon receipt of
the request, the chief medical officer and the warden or the warden'
s representative shall follow the procedures described in paragraph
(4). If the secretary determines that the prisoner satisfies the
criteria set forth in paragraph (2), the secretary or board may
recommend to the court that the prisoner's sentence be recalled. The
secretary shall submit a recommendation for release within 30 days in
the case of inmates sentenced to determinate terms and, in the case
of inmates sentenced to indeterminate terms, the secretary shall make
a recommendation to the Board of Parole Hearings with respect to the
inmates who have applied under this section. The board shall
consider this information and make an independent judgment pursuant
to paragraph (2) and make findings related thereto before rejecting
the request or making a recommendation to the court. This action
shall be taken at the next lawfully noticed board meeting.
(7) Any A recommendation for recall
submitted to the court by the secretary or the Board of Parole
Hearings shall include one or more medical evaluations, a postrelease
plan, and findings pursuant to paragraph (2).
(8) If possible, the matter shall be heard before the same judge
of the court who sentenced the prisoner.
(9) If the court grants the recall and resentencing application,
the prisoner shall be released by the department within 48 hours of
receipt of the court's order, unless a longer time period is agreed
to by the inmate. At the time of release, the warden or the warden's
representative shall ensure that the prisoner has each of the
following in his or her possession: a discharge medical summary, full
medical records, state identification, parole medications, and all
property belonging to the prisoner. After discharge, any additional
records shall be sent to the prisoner's forwarding address.
(10) The secretary shall issue a directive to medical and
correctional staff employed by the department that details the
guidelines and procedures for initiating a recall and resentencing
procedure. The directive shall clearly state that any prisoner who is
given a prognosis of six months or less to live is eligible for
recall and resentencing consideration, and that recall and
resentencing procedures shall be initiated upon that prognosis.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for
purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (h), any
an allegation that a defendant is eligible for state
prison due to a prior or current conviction, sentence enhancement, or
because he or she is required to register as a sex offender shall
not be subject to dismissal pursuant to Section 1385.
(g) A sentence to state prison for a determinate term for which
only one term is specified, is a sentence to state prison under this
section.
(h) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable
pursuant to this subdivision where the term is not specified in the
underlying offense shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment in a
county jail for 16 months, or two or three years.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable
pursuant to this subdivision shall be punishable by imprisonment in a
county jail for the term described in the underlying offense.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), where
if the defendant (A) has a prior or current
felony conviction for a serious felony described in subdivision (c)
of Section 1192.7 or a prior or current conviction for a violent
felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, (B) has a prior
felony conviction in another jurisdiction for an offense that has
all the elements of a serious felony described in subdivision (c) of
Section 1192.7 or a violent felony described in subdivision (c) of
Section 667.5, (C) is required to register as a sex offender pursuant
to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 290) of Title 9 of Part 1,
or (D) is convicted of a crime and as part of the sentence an
enhancement pursuant to Section 186.11 is imposed, an executed
sentence for a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision shall
be served in state prison.
(4) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent
other dispositions authorized by law, including pretrial diversion,
deferred entry of judgment, or an order granting probation pursuant
to Section 1203.1.
(5) (A) Unless the court finds that, in the interests of justice,
it is not appropriate in a particular case, the court, when imposing
a sentence pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), shall suspend execution
of a concluding portion of the term for a period selected at the
court's discretion.
(B) The portion of a defendant's sentenced term that is suspended
pursuant to this paragraph shall be known as mandatory supervision,
and, unless otherwise ordered by the court, shall commence upon
release from physical custody or an alternative custody program,
whichever is later. During the period of mandatory supervision, the
defendant shall be supervised by the county probation officer in
accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures generally
applicable to persons placed on probation, for the remaining unserved
portion of the sentence imposed by the court. The period of
supervision shall be mandatory, and may not be earlier terminated
except by court order. Any A proceeding
to revoke or modify mandatory supervision under this subparagraph
shall be conducted pursuant to either subdivisions (a) and (b) of
Section 1203.2 or Section 1203.3. During the period when the
defendant is under such supervision, unless in actual custody related
to the sentence imposed by the court, the defendant shall be
entitled to only actual time credit against the term of imprisonment
imposed by the court. Any time period which is suspended because a
person has absconded shall not be credited toward the period of
supervision.
(6) The sentencing changes made by the act that added this
subdivision shall be applied prospectively to any person sentenced on
or after October 1, 2011.
(7) The sentencing changes made to paragraph (5) by the act that
added this paragraph shall become effective and operative on January
1, 2015, and shall be applied prospectively to any person sentenced
on or after January 1, 2015.
(i) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before that date, deletes or extends that
date.
