Opinion ID: 1764966
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: appellate review for excessiveness

Text: Article 1, Section 20, La. Constitution of 1974 prohibits the imposition by law of excessive punishment. In accordance therewith, in State v. Sepulvado, 367 So.2d 762 (La.1979), we held that the imposition of a sentence, although within the statutory limit, may violate a defendant's constitutional rights against excessive punishment that is enforceable by this court on appellate review of his conviction. 367 So.2d 767; State v. Cox, 369 So.2d 118 (La.1979). With respect to the appropriate standards for that review, we further stated that: ... the statutory criteria legislatively provided by La.C.Cr.P. art. 894.1 (1977), which are similar to those evolved by courts in other American jurisdictions with a constitutional or statutory duty to review excessiveness, provide appropriate criteria by which to measure whether a sentence within statutory limits is nevertheless excessive, either by reason of its length or because it specifies confinement rather than less onerous sentencing alternatives. 367 So.2d 769.