Opinion ID: 5648544
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Explaining Basis of Sentencing Decision

Text: The defendant argues that the trial court’s failure to describe the basis for its sentencing decision in more detail violated his state and federal constitutional rights to due process. See N.H. CONST. pt. I, art. 15; U.S. CONST. amends. V, XIV. We first consider the defendant’s argument under the State Constitution, using federal cases only to aid in our analysis. State v. Ball, 124 N.H. 226, 231-33 (1983). 7 “Due process requires that the court inform the defendant at the time of sentencing in plain and certain terms what punishment it is exacting as well as the extent to which the court retains discretion to impose punishment at a later date and under what conditions the sentence may be modified.” Benner, 172 N.H. at 198-99 (quotation omitted). “Although there are occasions when an explanation of the reasons for a [trial court] decision may be required by the demands of due process, such occasions are the exception rather than the