Opinion ID: 1751549
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: alternatives to imprisonment

Text: For his second point, Elders urges that the circuit court erred in failing to consider suspension and probation as options to imprisonment. More specifically, Elders implores this court to apply Act 192 of 1993, now codified at Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-4-104(e)(1) and 5-4-301(a)(1) (Repl.1993), to the facts of this case. As already noted, Act 192 removes the prohibition against considering suspension or probation as an alternative to imprisonment. The operative dates to consider on this point are these. On February 24, 1993, Act 192 of 1993 was approved. On July 29, 1993, Elders committed the offense. On August 13, 1993, Act 192 became effective. On March 1, 1994, Elders was charged with the delivery of cocaine. Elders's argument is two-fold. He contends that under the majority view in this country ameliorative legislative acts which reduce penalties are applied retroactively to offenses occurring prior to their effective dates. Elders further urges that the common law would apply a new act to a crime committed after passage of the act but before its effective date, and that this court has never considered that precise issue. We view our law in this area as being absolutely clear. We have refrained from applying Act 192 of 1993 retroactively on multiple occasions since its passage. See State v. Galyean, 315 Ark. 699, 870 S.W.2d 706 (1994); State v. Landis, 315 Ark. 681, 870 S.W.2d 704 (1994); Eberlein v. State, 315 Ark. 591, 869 S.W.2d 12 (1994); State v. Williams, 315 Ark. 464, 868 S.W.2d 461 (1994); State v. Whale, 314 Ark. 576, 863 S.W.2d 290 (1993); State v. Townsend, 314 Ark. 427, 863 S.W.2d 288 (1993). This rule applies even when the General Assembly amends an act to reduce punishment after commission of the crime but before sentencing. State v. Townsend, supra . Sentencing is now controlled entirely by statute. Id. Only when the General Assembly expressly provides that an act should be applied retroactively will we do so. State v. Williams, supra ; State v. Townsend, supra . The fact that Act 192 was approved before commission of the crime and effective after the crime does not require its application to this case. The General Assembly did not provide for retroactive effectiveness in Act 192, and we view the effective date of the Act as controlling. Moreover, because sentencing is controlled by statute, we give no credence to Elders's argument that the common law should govern any facet of the punishment meted out in this case. We note on this point that there is a general statute in the Arkansas Criminal Code which deals with retroactivity: (e) When all or part of a statute defining a criminal offense is amended or repealed, the statute or part thereof so amended or repealed shall remain in force for the purpose of authorizing the prosecution, conviction, and punishment of a person committing an offense under the statute or part thereof prior to the effective date of the amending or repealing act. Ark.Code.Ann. § 5-1-103(e) (Repl.1993). While we agree with Elders that Act 192 does not amend a statute defining a criminal offense and, thus, does not govern the case before us, § 5-1-103(e) does evince a legislative policy in a related context that the law in effect at the time of the crime's commission should control. We decline once more to apply Act 192 retroactively. Affirmed.