Opinion ID: 2273318
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: General Provisions for Sentencing

Text: [¶ 16] When imposing a sentence, the court is required to follow the three-step process set forth in 17-A M.R.S. § 1252-C (2009) to determine the appropriate length of imprisonment. Section 1252-C states: In imposing a sentencing alternative pursuant to section 1152 that includes a term of imprisonment relative to murder, a Class A, Class B or Class C crime, in setting the appropriate length of that term as well as any unsuspended portion of that term accompanied by a period of probation, the court shall employ the following 3-step process: 1. The court shall first determine a basic term of imprisonment by considering the particular nature and seriousness of the offense as committed by the offender. 2. The court shall next determine the maximum period of imprisonment to be imposed by considering all other relevant sentencing factors, both aggravating and mitigating, appropriate to that case. These sentencing factors include, but are not limited to, the character of the offender and the offender's criminal history, the effect of the offense on the victim and the protection of the public interest. 3. The court shall finally determine what portion, if any, of the maximum period of imprisonment should be suspended and, if a suspension order is to be entered, determine the appropriate period of probation to accompany that suspension. [¶ 17] In addition, the court is required to articulate which sentencing goals are served by the sentence. The general purposes of sentencing are set forth in 17-A M.R.S. § 1151 (2009), which states: The general purposes of the provisions of this part are: 1. To prevent crime through the deterrent effect of sentences, the rehabilitation of convicted persons, and the restraint of convicted persons when required in the interest of public safety; 2. To encourage restitution in all cases in which the victim can be compensated and other purposes of sentencing can be appropriately served; 3. To minimize correctional experiences which serve to promote further criminality; 4. To give fair warning of the nature of the sentences that may be imposed on the conviction of a crime; 5. To eliminate inequalities in sentences that are unrelated to legitimate criminological goals; 6. To encourage differentiation among offenders with a view to a just individualization of sentences; 7. To promote the development of correctional programs which elicit the cooperation of convicted persons; and 8. To permit sentences that do not diminish the gravity of offenses, with reference to the factors, among others, of: A. The age of the victim; and B. The selection by the defendant of the person against whom the crime was committed or of the property that was damaged or otherwise affected by the crime because of the race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation or homelessness of that person or of the owner or occupant of that property. Section 1151 provides the principles that guide the sentencing court at each of the three steps of the sentencing process. State v. Gallant, 600 A.2d 830, 831 (Me. 1991). Not all of the provisions of section 1151 are within the direct province of the sentencing court but most are. Various provisions of section 1151 may or may not be relevant depending on which step of the process is being considered and depending on the facts presented at sentencing. [¶ 18] In the first step of the sentencing court's analysis, pursuant to section 1252-C(1), the court must determine a basic term of imprisonment by considering the particular nature and seriousness of the offense as it was committed. State v. Dwyer, 2009 ME 127, ¶ 35, 985 A.2d 469, 479. Some of the sentencing principles set forth in section 1151 that may be relevant to this analysis include preventing crime through the deterrent effect of sentences; restraining convicted persons when required in the interest of public safety; minimizing correctional experiences that serve to promote further criminality; and eliminating sentencing inequalities that are unrelated to legitimate criminological goals. 17-A M.R.S. § 1151(1), (3), (5). The court need not address all of these factors in any given sentence and it may address other factors. In determining the basic term the court is not to consider the subjective impact of the crime on the victim but it may take into account objective factors. State v. Gray, 2006 ME 29, ¶ 13, 893 A.2d 611, 616; State v. Pfeil, 1998 ME 245, ¶¶ 16-17, 720 A.2d 573, 577-78. The objective factors include the age or other characteristics of the victim, pursuant to section 1151(8), and the nature of the injuries inflicted, see Pfeil, ¶¶ 16-17, 720 A.2d at 577-78. [¶ 19] In the second step of the sentencing court's analysis, pursuant to section 1252-C(2), the court must determine the maximum period of imprisonment by considering all other relevant aggravating and mitigating factors. State v. Downs, 2009 ME 3, ¶ 22, 962 A.2d 950, 956. Some of the sentencing principles applicable to the determination of the maximum period of imprisonment may also be applicable to the basic term. Additional principles also may be relevant such as rehabilitation, restitution, and differentiation of sentences to take into account the individual circumstances of the defendant and to achieve a just outcome. 17-A M.R.S. § 1151(1), (2), (6). [¶ 20] In the third step of the sentencing court's analysis, pursuant to section 1252-C(3), the court must determine whether any portion of the maximum sentence should be suspended and, if so, what period of probation should accompany that suspension. Downs, 2009 ME 3, ¶ 26, 962 A.2d at 956. In determining the final sentence as with the basic and maximum periods the court must take into account the general purposes of the sentencing provisions. Id. ¶ 27, 962 A.2d at 956-57.