| 122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE | |||||||||
| LD 1717 | LR 2770(03) | ||||||||
| An Act to Create Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Persons Convicted of Certain Sex Offenses against Victims under 12 Years of Age | |||||||||
| Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " " | |||||||||
| Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety | |||||||||
| Fiscal Note Required: Yes | |||||||||
| Fiscal Note | |||||||||
| Current biennium cost increase - General Fund | |||||||||
| Future biennium cost increase - General Fund | |||||||||
| Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements | |||||||||
| Establishing a 25 year minimum mandatory sentence for violators who have been convicted of certain sex offenses against persons who have not attained 12 years of age will result in additional future costs to the Department of Corrections. Approximately 20 people are sentenced to this crime each year. It is currently unknown how many are second offenders. If we assume 5 are second offenders and the average sentence is 5 years, this legislation adds approximately 20 years to each sentence and will result in additional costs, including the compound effect of sentences in subsequent years, of an estimated $175,000 in fiscal year 2010-11, $350,000 in fiscal year 2011-12, $525,000 in fiscal year 2012-13, etc. The compounding would continue through the 25th year when costs would level off. | |||||||||
| The Judicial Department has indicated that mandatory minimum sentences will result in fewer cases being resolved without trial, increasing trial and sentencing costs due to additional time requirements for judges, clerks, law clerks, security, court report. | |||||||||