Opinion ID: 1355776
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: doubling of presentence time served

Text: Appellee, without filing a cross appeal, now questions the propriety of the trial court's doubling of presentence time served and applying the double credit against the maximum term of appellant's sentence. The issue will be addressed since resentencing will be required. While we can find no authority clearly supporting or opposing such a practice, common sense and logic lead us to conclude that it is not a discretionary option for the trial court. [10] Consideration of fairness and substantial justice may make it appropriate and indigence may make it necessary that the trial court consider credit on sentence for time spent in presentence incarceration, but this consideration is not extended to served sentence credit in excess of time actually incarcerated. If the sentencing court considers mitigating factors other than presentence incarceration, discretion can be applied within sentencing limits fashioned by the legislature. Consequently, doubling of presentence incarceration credit is unjustified as well as unauthorized and constitutes an abuse of discretion by the sentencing court. In this posture, we agree with appellee as a resentencing limitation. Reversed and remanded for resentencing in accord with this opinion. THOMAS, J., filed a concurring and dissenting opinion, with whom GOLDEN, J., joined.