(A) The state criminal sentencing commission shall study the existing criminal statutes and law of this state, sentencing patterns throughout the state, and available correctional resources. The commission shall use the results of its study to develop and recommend to the general assembly a comprehensive criminal sentencing structure. As part of its study, the commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Evaluate the effectiveness of the sentencing structure of the state;

(2) Systematically review each criminal statute to determine if the penalty provided is proportional to the seriousness of the offense committed and to penalties provided for other offenses;

(3) Review any existing sentencing guidelines;

(4) Determine the number, capacity, and quality of all available state, regional, and local correctional facilities and resources, including, but not limited to, detention facilities, probation services, pretrial diversion programs, and other nonfacility correctional programs;

(5) Collect a profile of the populations of state, regional, and local correctional facilities, services, and programs;

(6) Coordinate available correctional facilities, services, and programs with the criminal sentencing goals of the state, including, but not limited to, punishment, deterrence, fairness, rehabilitation, and treatment;

(7) Identify any additional correctional resources that are necessary to balance the needs of criminal sentencing and the available correctional resources.

(B) The commission shall develop a sentencing policy for the state that is based upon the findings and conclusions of its study under division (A) of this section. The policy shall be designed to enhance public safety by achieving certainty in sentencing, deterrence, and a reasonable use of correctional facilities, programs, and services and shall be designed to achieve fairness in sentencing.

Effective Date: 03-23-2000.

Related Legislative Provision: See 129th General AssemblyFile No.39, SB 171, §4 .