Title: In Re Rules of Crim. Proc.(sent. Guidelines)

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

439 So. 2d 848 (1983)
In re RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (SENTENCING GUIDELINES).
No. 63962.

Supreme Court of Florida.
September 8, 1983.
Robert Wesley, Staff Counsel, Tallahassee, for Sentencing Guidelines Com'n, petitioner.
*849 PER CURIAM.
The Sentencing Guidelines Commission has proposed a rule of criminal procedure to implement sentencing guidelines in order to comply with the action of the legislature in its passage of section 921.001, Florida Statutes (1983). After publication of the proposed rule in The Florida Bar News, the Court received numerous comments and suggestions regarding the proposed rule. The commission considered these suggestions at its final meeting, August 26, 1983, made several changes, and transmitted its final version of the proposed rule to this Court.
We have considered the proposed rule and the comments and suggestions which have been received, and we hereby adopt, as rule 3.701 and form 3.988, the rule and forms appended to this opinion. The sentencing guidelines adopted herein will be effective for all applicable offenses committed after 12.01 a.m., October 1, 1983 and, if affirmatively selected by the defendant, to sentences imposed after that date for applicable crimes occurring prior thereto.
It is so ordered.
ALDERMAN, C.J., and BOYD, OVERTON, McDONALD, EHRLICH and SHAW, JJ., concur.
ADKINS, J., dissents.
The purpose of sentencing guidelines is to establish a uniform set of standards to guide the sentencing judge in the sentence decision-making process. The guidelines represent a synthesis of current sentencing theory and historic sentencing practices throughout the state. Sentencing guidelines are intended to eliminate unwarranted variation in the sentencing process by reducing the subjectivity in interpreting specific offense- and offender-related criteria and in defining their relative importance in the sentencing decision.
The sentencing guidelines embody the following principles:
Offenses have been grouped into nine (9) offense categories encompassing the following statutes:
COMMITTEE NOTE: (a) The operation of this rule is not intended to change the law or requirements of proof as regards sentencing.
(b) These principles are binding on the sentencing court.
(c) Only one category is proper in any particular case. Category 9, "All Other Felony Offenses," should be used only when the primary offense at conviction is not included in another, more specific category. The guidelines do not apply to capital felonies.
Inchoate offenses are included within the category of the offense attempted, solicited, or conspired to, as modified by ch. 777.
If a defendent is to be sentenced for a probation violation, and the sentencing judge elects to revoke probation, the new sentence must be in accordance with the guidelines.
(d)(1) Ultimate responsibility for assuring that scoresheets are accurately prepared rests with the sentencing court. Due to ethical considerations, defense counsel may not be compelled to submit a scoresheet. Probation and parole officers may be directed to compile guidelines scoresheets only when a presentence investigation has been ordered. The forms for calculating the guidelines are forms 3.988(a)-(i).
(d)(2) This definition applies to both instant offense and prior record scoring.
(d)(3) The proper offense category is identified upon determination of the primary offense. When the defendant is convicted of violations of more than one unique statute, the offenses are to be sorted by statutory degree. In the event of multiple *852 offenses of the same statutory degree, the primary offense is identified by the corresponding offense category with the lowest numerical designation.
(d)(4) No points shall be scored for lesser and included offenses, or for offenses which are the same as offenses within the same act or transaction.
(d)(5) Each separate prior felony and misdemeanor conviction in an offender's prior record which amounts to a violation of Florida law shall be scored, unless discharged by the passage of time. Any uncertainty in the scoring of the defendant's prior record shall be resolved in favor of the defendant, and disagreement as to the propriety of scoring specific entries in the prior record should be resolved by the trial judge.
Prior record includes all offenses for which the defendant has been found guilty, regardless of whether adjudication was withheld or the record has been expunged.
Juvenile dispositions, with the exclusion of status offenses, are included and considered along with adult convictions by operation of this provision. However, each separate adjudication is discharged from consideration if three (3) years have passed between the date of disposition and the conviction for the instant offense.
(d)(7) This provision implements the intention of the commission that points for victim injury be added only when the defendant is convicted of an offense (scored as either primary or additional offense) which includes physical impact or contact. Victim injury is to be scored for each victim for whom the defendant is convicted of injuring and is limited to physical trauma.
(d)(8) The first guideline cell in each category (any nonstate prison sanction) allows the court the flexibility to impose any lawful term of probation with or without a period of incarceration as a condition of probation, a county jail term alone or any nonincarcerative disposition. The presumptive sentences in the succeeding grids refer to commitments to state prison. The presumptive sentences are found in forms 3.988(a)-(i).
(d)(10) If an offender is convicted under an enhancement statute, the reclassified degree should be used as the basis for scoring the primary offense in the appropriate category.
(d)(11) The written statement shall be made a part of the record, with sufficient specificity to inform all parties, as well as the public, of the reasons for departure. The court is prohibited from considering offenses for which the offender has not been convicted.
Sentences under provisions of the Youthful Offender Act (ch. 958), the Mentally Disordered Sex Offender Act (ch. 917) or which require participation in drug rehabilitation programs (sec. 397.12) need not conform to the guidelines.
(d)(12) The sentencing court shall impose or suspend sentence for each separate count, as convicted. The total sentence shall not exceed the guideline sentence, unless the provisions of paragraph 11 are complied with.
If a split sentence is imposed (i.e., a combination of state prison and probation supervision), the incarcerative portion imposed shall not be less than the minimum of the guideline range, and the total sanction imposed cannot exceed the maximum guideline range.
(d)(13) Community control is a viable alternative for any state prison sentence less than twenty-four (24) months without requiring a reason for departure.