SENATE BILL 75

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

FOR THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO CRIMINAL SENTENCING; REMOVING THE MANDATORY PAROLE PROVISION FOR PERSONS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR OR LESS IN PRISON; PROHIBITING THE IMPOSITION OF PAROLE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 216, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "31-18-15. SENTENCING AUTHORITY--NONCAPITAL FELONIES-- BASIC SENTENCES AND FINES--PAROLE AUTHORITY--MERITORIOUS DEDUCTIONS.--

          A. If a person is convicted of a noncapital felony, the basic sentence of imprisonment is as follows:

                (1) for a first degree felony resulting in the death of a child, life imprisonment;

                (2) for a first degree felony for aggravated criminal sexual penetration, life imprisonment;

                (3) for a first degree felony, eighteen years imprisonment;

                (4) for a second degree felony resulting in the death of a human being, fifteen years imprisonment;

                (5) for a second degree felony for a sexual offense against a child, fifteen years imprisonment;

                (6) for a second degree felony for sexual exploitation of children, twelve years imprisonment;

                (7) for a second degree felony, nine years imprisonment;

                (8) for a third degree felony resulting in the death of a human being, six years imprisonment;

                (9) for a third degree felony for a sexual offense against a child, six years imprisonment;

                (10) for a third degree felony for sexual exploitation of children, eleven years imprisonment;

                (11) for a third degree felony, three years imprisonment;

                (12) for a fourth degree felony for sexual exploitation of children, ten years imprisonment; or

                (13) for a fourth degree felony, eighteen months imprisonment.

          B. The appropriate basic sentence of imprisonment shall be imposed upon a person convicted and sentenced pursuant to Subsection A of this section, unless the court alters the sentence pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Sentencing Act.

          C. A period of parole shall be imposed only for felony convictions wherein a person is sentenced to imprisonment of more than one year, unless the parties to a proceeding agree that a period of parole should be imposed. If a period of parole is imposed, the court shall include in the judgment and sentence of each person convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in a corrections facility designated by the corrections department authority for a period of parole to be served in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-21-10 NMSA 1978 after the completion of any actual time of imprisonment and authority to require, as a condition of parole, the payment of the costs of parole services and reimbursement to a law enforcement agency or local crime stopper program in accordance with the provisions of that section. If imposed, the period of parole shall be deemed to be part of the sentence of the convicted person in addition to the basic sentence imposed pursuant to Subsection A of this section together with alterations, if any, pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Sentencing Act.

          D. When a court imposes a sentence of imprisonment pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15.1, 31-18-16 or 31-18-17 NMSA 1978 and suspends or defers the basic sentence of imprisonment provided pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this section, the period of parole shall be served in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-21-10 NMSA 1978 for the degree of felony for the basic sentence for which the inmate was convicted. For the purpose of designating a period of parole, a court shall not consider that the basic sentence of imprisonment was suspended or deferred and that the inmate served a period of imprisonment pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Sentencing Act.

          E. The court may, in addition to the imposition of a basic sentence of imprisonment, impose a fine not to exceed:

                (1) for a first degree felony resulting in the death of a child, seventeen thousand five hundred dollars ($17,500);

                (2) for a first degree felony for aggravated criminal sexual penetration, seventeen thousand five hundred dollars ($17,500);

                (3) for a first degree felony, fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000);

                (4) for a second degree felony resulting in the death of a human being, twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500);

                (5) for a second degree felony for a sexual offense against a child, twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($12,500);

                (6) for a second degree felony for sexual exploitation of children, five thousand dollars ($5,000);

                (7) for a second degree felony, ten thousand dollars ($10,000);

                (8) for a third degree felony resulting in the death of a human being, five thousand dollars ($5,000);

                (9) for a third degree felony for a sexual offense against a child, five thousand dollars ($5,000);

                (10) for a third degree felony for sexual exploitation of children, five thousand dollars ($5,000);

                (11) for a third or fourth degree felony, five thousand dollars ($5,000); or

                (12) for a fourth degree felony for sexual exploitation of children, five thousand dollars ($5,000).

          F. When the court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a felony offense, the court shall indicate whether or not the offense is a serious violent offense, as defined in Section 33-2-34 NMSA 1978. The court shall inform an offender that the offender's sentence of imprisonment is subject to the provisions of Sections 33-2-34, 33-2-36, 33-2-37 and 33-2-38 NMSA 1978. If the court fails to inform an offender that the offender's sentence is subject to those provisions or if the court provides the offender with erroneous information regarding those provisions, the failure to inform or the error shall not provide a basis for a writ of habeas corpus.

          G. No later than October 31 of each year, the

New Mexico sentencing commission shall provide a written report to the secretary of corrections, all New Mexico criminal court judges, the administrative office of the district attorneys and the chief public defender. The report shall specify the average reduction in the sentence of imprisonment for serious violent offenses and nonviolent offenses, as defined in Section 33-2-34 NMSA 1978, due to meritorious deductions earned by prisoners during the previous fiscal year pursuant to the provisions of Sections 33-2-34, 33-2-36, 33-2-37 and 33-2-38 NMSA 1978. The corrections department shall allow the commission access to documents used by the department to determine earned meritorious deductions for prisoners."

     SECTION 2. Section 31-21-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1980, Chapter 28, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "31-21-10. PAROLE AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURE.--

          A. An inmate of an institution who was sentenced to life imprisonment becomes eligible for a parole hearing after the inmate has served thirty years of the sentence. Before ordering the parole of an inmate sentenced to life imprisonment, the board shall:

                (1) interview the inmate at the institution where the inmate is committed;

                (2) consider all pertinent information concerning the inmate, including:

                     (a) the circumstances of the offense;

                     (b) mitigating and aggravating circumstances;

                     (c) whether a deadly weapon was used in the commission of the offense;

                     (d) whether the inmate is [a] an habitual offender;

                     (e) the reports filed under Section

31-21-9 NMSA 1978; and

                     (f) the reports of such physical and mental examinations as have been made while in an institution;

                (3) make a finding that a parole is in the best interest of society and the inmate; and

                (4) make a finding that the inmate is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen.

     If parole is denied, the inmate sentenced to life imprisonment shall again become entitled to a parole hearing at two-year intervals. The board may, on its own motion, reopen any case in which a hearing has already been granted and parole denied.

          B. Unless the board finds that it is in the best interest of society and the parolee to reduce the period of parole, a person who was sentenced to life imprisonment shall be required to undergo a minimum period of parole of five years. During the period of parole, the person shall be under the guidance and supervision of the board.

          C. An inmate of an institution who was sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole is not eligible for parole and shall remain incarcerated for the entirety of the inmate's natural life.

          D. Except for certain sex offenders as provided in Section 31-21-10.1 NMSA 1978, an inmate who was convicted of a first, second or third degree felony and who has served the sentence of imprisonment imposed by the court in an institution designated by the corrections department that exceeds one year or has agreed and been ordered to serve a period of parole by the court shall be required to undergo a two-year period of parole. An inmate who was convicted of a fourth degree felony and who has served [the] a sentence of imprisonment imposed by the court in an institution designated by the corrections department that exceeds one year or has agreed and been ordered to serve a period of parole by the court shall be required to undergo a one-year period of parole. During the period of parole, the person shall be under the guidance and supervision of the board.

          E. Every person while on parole shall remain in the legal custody of the institution from which the person was released but shall be subject to the orders of the board. The board shall furnish to each inmate as a prerequisite to release under its supervision a written statement of the conditions of parole that shall be accepted and agreed to by the inmate as evidenced by the inmate's signature affixed to a duplicate copy to be retained in the files of the board. The board shall also require as a prerequisite to release the submission and approval of a parole plan. If an inmate refuses to affix the inmate's signature to the written statement of the conditions of parole or does not have an approved parole plan, the inmate shall not be released and shall remain in the custody of the institution in which the inmate has served the inmate's sentence, excepting parole, until such time as the period of parole the inmate was required to serve, less meritorious deductions, if any, expires, at which time the inmate shall be released from that institution without parole, or until such time that the inmate evidences acceptance and agreement to the conditions of parole as required or receives approval for the inmate's parole plan or both. Time served from the date that an inmate refuses to accept and agree to the conditions of parole or fails to receive approval for the inmate's parole plan shall reduce the period, if any, to be served under parole at a later date. If the district court has ordered that the inmate make restitution to a victim as provided in Section 31-17-1 NMSA 1978, the board shall include restitution as a condition of parole. The board shall also [personally] apprise the inmate in person of the conditions of parole and the inmate's duties relating thereto.

          F. When a person on parole has performed the obligations of the person's release for the period of parole provided in this section, the board shall make a final order of discharge and issue the person a certificate of discharge.

          G. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978, the board shall require the inmate as a condition of parole:

                (1) to pay the actual costs of parole services to the adult probation and parole division of the corrections department for deposit to the corrections department intensive supervision fund not exceeding one thousand eight hundred dollars ($1,800) annually to be paid in monthly installments of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150), as set by the appropriate district supervisor of the adult probation and parole division, based upon the financial circumstances of the defendant. The defendant's payment of the supervised parole costs shall not be waived unless the board holds an evidentiary hearing and finds that the defendant is unable to pay the costs. If the board waives the defendant's payment of the supervised parole costs and the defendant's financial circumstances subsequently change so that the defendant is able to pay the costs, the appropriate district supervisor of the adult probation and parole division shall advise the board and the board shall hold an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the waiver should be rescinded; and

                (2) to reimburse a law enforcement agency or local crime stopper program for the amount of any reward paid by the agency or program for information leading to the inmate's arrest, prosecution or conviction.

          H. The provisions of this section shall apply to all inmates except geriatric, permanently incapacitated and terminally ill inmates eligible for the medical and geriatric parole program as provided by the Parole Board Act."

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2019.

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