Title: State v. Jackson

State: louisiana

Issuer: Louisiana Supreme Court

Document:

360 So. 2d 842 (1978) STATE of Louisiana v. Eddie Roy JACKSON a/k/a Eddie Ray Jackson. STATE of Louisiana v. Charles E. HEBERT. Nos. 61388, 61389. Supreme Court of Louisiana. June 19, 1978. Claude R. Sledge, Public Defender, DeSoto Parish, Mansfield, for defendant-relator. William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., James Lynn Davis, Dist. Atty., Herman L. Lawson, Asst. Dist. Atty., for plaintiff-respondent. SANDERS, Chief Justice. DeSoto Parish Grand Juries indicted Eddie Roy Jackson with simple kidnapping, forcible rape, and aggravated battery, and Charles E. Hebert with crime against nature and simple kidnapping, violations of LSA-R.S. 14:34, 43.1, 45, and 89. Both defendants pled guilty to the charges. Jackson received a total of thirty-five years imprisonment and Hebert ten years. On the defendants' complaints that the trial judge had failed to comply with mandatory sentencing procedure, we granted writs to review the action taken. The defendants assert that the sentences are illegal because the trial judge failed to state for the record the considerations taken into account and the factual basis for *843 imposing sentence as required by Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 894.1 (Act 635 of 1977). That article provides: The same court sentenced both defendants on December 14, 1977. Except for the defendant's names, ages, and sentences, the minutes reflecting the court's reasons for imposing sentences are identical. They read, in pertinent part: We agree with defendants' contention that the court failed to "state for the record the considerations taken into account and the factual basis therefor in imposing sentence." LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 894.1. Public protection and deterrence are two general objectives of every sentence. In State v. Frank, La., 344 So. 2d 1039 (1977), we stated: Article 894.1, however, requires that the sentence be individualized. The trial judge is required to state for the record the considerations taken into account and the *844 factual basis supporting them in imposing the particular sentence upon the individual before the court. See State v. Sepulvado, La., 359 So. 2d 137 (No. 61,216, 1978). The article establishes procedures designed to adapt the sentence to the offender as well as the offense. The factors supporting a sentence of imprisonment include an undue risk that defendant will commit another crime, the defendant is in need of correctional services provided in an institution, or a lesser sentence will deprecate the seriousness of the crime. LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 894.1 A(1)(2)(3). The statute also enumerates eleven factors favoring suspension of sentence or probation, though it provides that these factors do not control the discretion of the court. LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 894.1 B(1)-(11). The considerations taken into account by the trial judge should be based upon factual determinations. Among the numerous matters to be reviewed are: the defendant's personal history (e. g., age, marital status, dependents, family stability, employment, mental, emotional, and physical health); the defendant's prior criminal record; the seriousness of the crime; the circumstances of the offense; the likelihood that defendant will commit another crime; and his potential for rehabilitation through correctional services other than confinement. State v. Frank, supra; J. Williams, The Law of Sentencing and Corrections, 1, 15, 17 (1974); National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, Corrections Standard 5.14 (1973); R. Dawson, Sentencing, 35, 79, 173-174, 195 (1969); S. Rubin, The Law of Criminal Correction, 84, 85, 112-115 (1963); Advisory Council of Judges of the National Probation and Parole Association, Guides for Sentencing, 33-47 (1957). Under Article 894.1, the sentencing judge must state for the record the considerations taken into account in imposing sentence and the factual basis for them. As the judge failed to comply with that article, we must remand the case for resentencing. For the reasons assigned, the convictions are affirmed, but the sentences are vacated and the cases remanded to the district court for sentencing of the defendants according to law and consistent with the views herein expressed.