proposed recommendations for guidelines revisions

Proposed Recommendations for Guidelines Revisions

Commonly Used Source Material for Identifying Possibilities for Revisions to Sentencing Guidelines

Low compliance rate

Clusters of similar reasons for judicial departures from sentencing guidelines

Observations from sentencing guidelines users

– Judges– Prosecutors– Public defenders– Defense attorneys– Probation officers

Empirical examination of sentencing practices for relatively new felony crimes

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Proposals for Guidelines Revisions

Steps

• Review existing worksheet, compliance and departure patterns

• Analyze judicial reasons for departure

• Test revised scoring scenarios

– Best fit for the data

• Project judicial concurrence with proposal

– Score cases using guidelines data and/or pre-sentence report information

– Use current Recommendation Tables

• Maximize compliance (and balance departures, if possible)

Proposed Recommendation 1:

Drugs and Weapons

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Proposed Recommendation 1

Add a factor to Section C of the Schedule I/II and Other Drug Sentencing Guidelines to increase the prison sentence recommendation for offenders who have an accompanying weapons offense that carries a mandatory minimum term

Issue

• Current guidelines were developed prior to Virginia Exile, legislation which created new mandatory minimum terms for certain weapons offenses and increased existing mandatory minimum terms for others.

• The Commission has received comments that these mandatory minimums have been in effect for several years but have not been incorporated into the guidelines.

• This is most noticeable when a drug crime is accompanied by weapons offense.

• Guidelines users are instructed to adjust the recommended range, if necessary, to reflect the mandatory minimum.

• Any part of the range that falls below the mandatory minimum should be adjusted to be equal to the required minimum term.

• Approximately 73% of drug cases with weapons crimes carrying a mandatory minimum should have a range adjustment.

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Mitigation, 10%

Aggravation, 21%

Compliance, 69%

Compliance in Cases with Convictions for Drug Crimes Accompanied by Weapons Offenses

Requiring a Mandatory Minimum TermFY2003 – FY2006

653 cases


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A factor can be added to the Section C of both Drug guidelines to increase the sentence recommendation for cases involving this combination of offenses.


Mandatory Firearm Conviction for Current Event Assign points to each additional offense with a mandatory minimum and total the points------

2 Years Mandatory Minimum .................................................................................................................................................................. 13 5 Years Mandatory Minimum ................................................................................................................................................................. 32

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Adding 13 points for every two-year mandatory minimum term required and 32 points for every five-year mandatory minimum term required, maximizes compliance and balances mitigation and aggravation rates.


Current Guidelines

Proposed Change

Compliance 69% 72%

Mitigation 10% 15%

Aggravation 21% 13%

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Add a factor to Section C of the Schedule I/II and Other Drug Sentencing Guidelines to increase the prison sentence recommendation for offenders who have an accompanying weapons offense that carries a mandatory minimum term


Street Robbery with Certain Additional Offenses

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Add a factor to Section A of the Robbery Sentencing Guidelines to increase the likelihood that offenders convicted of robbery will receive a prison sentence recommendation when they are also convicted of an additional offense

Issue

• This case circumstance was suggested by a Commission member.

• Robbery without the use of a gun or simulated gun does not always yield a prison recommendation on the sentencing guidelines even when accompanied by an additional felony offense.

• Example:

Primary offense: Completed street robbery (without a gun or simulated gun)

Additional offenses: Attempted street robbery (no gun or simulated gun)

Sexual battery (misdemeanor)

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During FY2003-FY2006, more than 93% of all robbery offenders were recommended for a prison term.

Among offenders convicted of robbery and an additional felony offense during FY2003-FY2006, 99% were recommended for a prison term.

For FY2003-FY2006, 17 cases were identified in which the offender was convicted of robbery and another felony offense but was not recommended for a prison term.

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Three potential guideline changes were explored.

Scenario 1:

– Add 1 point on Section A of the Robbery guidelines for any additional felony with a statutory maximum of 10 years or more

Scenario 2:

– Add 1 point on Section A of the Robbery guidelines for any additional person felony

Scenario 3:

– Add 1 point on Section A of the Robbery guidelines for any additional Category 1 or 2 felony

2 – 9 .................................................................................................................................................... 2

10 or more ......................................................................................................................................... . 3

SCENARIO 1

Additional Offense is a Felony Crime Against Person If YES, add 1

SCENARIO 2

Additional Offense is Defined as Violent § 17.1-805 (Category I or II) If YES, add 1

SCENARIO 3

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Current Guidelines

Proposed Change

Compliance 11 10

Mitigation 0 4

Aggravation 6 3

FY2003-FY2006 (17 cases)

Scenario 1:

Current Guidelines

Proposed Change

Compliance 11 10

Mitigation 0 5

Aggravation 6 2

FY2003-FY2006 (17 cases)

Scenario 2:

Current Guidelines

Proposed Change

Compliance 11 9

Mitigation 0 5

Aggravation 6 3

FY2003-FY2006 (17 cases)

Scenario 3:

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Add a factor to Section A of the Robbery Sentencing Guidelines to increase the likelihood that offenders convicted of robbery will receive a prison sentence recommendation when they are also convicted of an additional offense

Scenario 1, 2 or 3


False Statement on Firearm Consent Form

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Revise the Weapons Sentencing Guidelines to increase the likelihood that some offenders convicted of Making a False Statement on a Firearm Consent Form will be recommended for incarceration up to six months instead of incarceration of more than six months.

Issue

• This offense was added to the guidelines effective July 1, 2006.

• During the first year of implementation, compliance for Making a False Statement on a Firearm Consent Form was 67%, with mitigation comprising nearly all of the departures (30%).

• Most commonly cited reasons for mitigation are: minimal circumstances of the case, plea agreement, lack of serious prior record, and recommendation of Commonwealth’s attorney.

• Many of the offenders whose sentences were mitigated had only one count of the offense, no additional offenses, no victim injury, prior record that included a previous incarceration, but no legal restraint at the time of the current offense.

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For the crime of Making a False Statement on a Firearm Consent Form, the guidelines can be refined to better identify offenders for whom judges have ordered a jail sentence of six months or less (versus those given a sentence greater than six months).

Revising the points assigned for the primary offense factor on Section A of the Weapons Guidelines can achieve this.


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• By revising the primary offense score for Making a False Statement on a Firearm Consent Form on Section A of the Weapons Guidelines from 4 points to 3 points, compliance can be improved slightly.


Current Guidelines

Proposed Change

Compliance 67% 70%

Mitigation 30% 24%

Aggravation 3% 6%

FY2007 (66 cases)

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Revise the Weapons Sentencing Guidelines to increase the likelihood that some offenders convicted of Making a False Statement on a Firearm Consent Form will be recommended for incarceration up to six months instead of incarceration of more than six months.


Involuntary Manslaughter

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Revise Section A of the Murder/Homicide Guidelines to increase the likelihood that offenders convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter and Involuntary Vehicular Manslaughter will be recommended for a prison sentence.

Issue

• Combined, the compliance for Involuntary Manslaughter and Involuntary Vehicular Manslaughter is 52%, with nearly all of the departure sentences above the guidelines.

• Most commonly cited reasons for aggravation are: aggravating circumstances/flagrancy of offense, extreme violence/victim injury, guidelines recommendation is too low, offender has drug/alcohol problems

• In nearly two-thirds of the aggravating departure cases, the offender had been recommended for probation or up to six months in jail but was sentenced to serve more than six months of incarceration.

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Compliance in Cases of Involuntary Manslaughter and Involuntary Vehicular Manslaughter

FY2003 – FY2006224 cases


Compliance, 52%

Mitigation, 7%

Aggravation, 41%

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For Involuntary Manslaughter and Involuntary Vehicular Manslaughter, the guidelines can be refined to better identify offenders for whom judges have ordered a prison sentence.

Revising the points assigned for the primary offense on Section A of the Murder/Homicide Guidelines can achieve this.


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By increasing the points for the primary offense on Section A of the Murder/Homicide Guidelines from 1 point to 3 points (1 count) and from 3 to 8 points (2 counts), the guidelines would be more in sync with judicial practice.


Current Guidelines

Proposed Change

Compliance 52% 62%

Mitigation 7% 7%

Aggravation 41% 31%

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Revise Section A of the Murder/Homicide Guidelines to increase the likelihood that offenders convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter and Involuntary Vehicular Manslaughter will be recommended for a prison sentence.


Child Abuse Felonies

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1. Amend Section A of the Miscellaneous Sentencing Guidelines, adding the offenses of Gross, Wanton, or Reckless Care for a Child (§ 18.2-371.1(B), Class 6 felony) and Cruelty and Injuries to Children (§ 40.1-103, Class 6 felony)

2. Adjusting the points assigned to the current child abuse felony covered by this worksheet (§ 18.2-371.1(A), Class 4 felony)

Issue

• The current guidelines cover Child Abuse and Neglect with Serious Injury (§ 18.2-371.1(A), Class 4 felony)

– Two related lesser offenses, including one defined in the same statute as the current guidelines offense, are not covered.

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Compliance in Cases of Child Neglect & Abuse - § 18.2-371.1(A)

FY2003 – FY2006(n=216)


Compliance, 50%

Mitigation, 13%

Aggravation, 37%

Commonly cited reasons :

Extreme Violence

Victim Vulnerability

Flagrancy

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Gross, Wanton, or Reckless Care for a Child (§ 18.2-371.1(B), Class 6 felony) and Cruelty and Injuries to Children (§ 40.1-103, Class 6 felony) –

Not currently covered by the guidelines


Disposition Percent Median Sentence

No Incarceration 43%

Up to 6 Months 30% 3 Months

More than 6 Months 27% 2 Years

FY2003 – FY2006 (188 cases)

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Section A• Primary offense scores

– For 1 count Gross or Reckless Care of Child: 1 point– For 1 count Cruelty and Injury to Children: 2 points

• Injury scores– For Serious Physical Injury: 5 points– For Other Injury: 2 points

Section B• Primary offense score

– For 1 count: 2 points Section C

• Primary offense scores– For 1 count, Other Category: 7 points– For 1 count, Category 2: 14 points– For 1 count, Category 1: 28 points

• Injury scores• For Serious Physical Injury: 10 points• For Physical Injury: 7 points• For Other Injury: 6 points

Proposed Recommendation 5Add Gross, Wanton, or Reckless Care for Child (Class 6 felony) andCruelty and Injuries to Children (Class 6 felony)

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Section A• Increase the primary offense scores

– For 1 count: from 2 points to 3 points– For 2 counts: from 6 points to 7 points

• Increase the injury scores– For Serious Physical Injury: from 2 points to 5 points– For Other Injury: from 1 point to 2 points

Section B• Increase the primary offense scores

– For 1 count: from 1 point to 3 points Section C

• Reduce the primary offense scores – For 1 count, Other Category: from 9 points to 8 points – For 1 count, Category 2: from 18 points to 16 points– For 1 count, Category 1: from 36 points to 32 points

• Increase the injury scores– For Serious Physical Injury: from 5 points to 10 points– For Physical Injury: from 4 point to 7 points– For Other Injury: from 2 point to 6 points

Proposed Recommendation 5Adjust Points for Offense Currently Covered (Child Abuse and Neglect, Class 4 felony)

E. Child neglect/abuse, serious injury

1 count ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 counts .....................................................................................................................................................................................7

F. Gross, reckless care of child ..................................................................................................................................................... 1G. Cruelty and injury to child .......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Primary offense other than child abuse etc. Primary Offense child abuse etc.

Threatened, emotional or physical ............................... 1 Threatened, emotional or physical ............................... 2

Serious physical ........................................................... 2 Serious physical ........................................................... 5

Add New Offenses

Increase Scores

Increase Scores

E. Child neglect/abuse, serious injury .......................................................................................................................................... 3

F. Gross, reckless care of child ..................................................................................................................................................... 2G. Cruelty and injury to child .......................................................................................................................................................... 2

Add New Offenses

Increase Scores

E. Child neglect/abuse, serious injury ......................................................................................................................................... 32 16 8

F. Gross, reckless care of child ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 14 7G. Cruelty and injury to child .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 14 7

Primary offense other than child abuse etc. Primary Offense child abuse etc.

Threatened or emotional ............................... 2 Threatened or emotional ............................... 6

Physical .......................................................... 4 Physical .......................................................... 7

Serious physical ............................................. 5 Serious physical ............................................. 10

Decrease Scores

Add New Offenses

Increase Scores

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Current Guidelines

Proposed Change

Compliance 50% 56%

Mitigation 13% 15%

Aggravation 37% 29%

Expected Compliance

Compliance 54%

Mitigation 25%

Aggravation 21%

Child Abuse and NeglectClass 4

Wanton, or Reckless Care for Child Cruelty and Injuries to Children

Class 6

FY2003 – FY2006 (188 cases)FY2003 – FY2006 (216 cases)

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Amend Section A of the Miscellaneous Sentencing Guidelines, adding the offenses of Gross, Wanton, or Reckless Care for a Child (Class 6, § 18.2-371.1(B)) and Cruelty and Injuries to Children (Class 6, § 40.1-103) and adjusting the points assigned to the current child abuse felony covered by this worksheet

proposed recommendations for guidelines revisions

Documents