Opinion ID: 2094176
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: sentencing statute

Text: Defendants contend that the trial court erred in applying § 29-2204 (Supp.1997), which was not in effect at the time of Johnson's sentencing. Section 29-2204 determines an offender's minimum sentence from which parole eligibility is then calculated. The key issue is which version of § 29-2204 was in effect when Johnson was sentenced. Prior to 1993, Nebraska law provided for indeterminate sentencing by operation of law. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 83-1,105(1) and (2) (Reissue 1987). Thus, if the court imposed a determinate sentence, the minimum term of that sentence was considered to be the minimum term provided by law. See State v. Urbano, 256 Neb. 194, 589 N.W.2d 144 (1999). In 1993, Nebraska passed the truth in sentencing legislation, effective September 9, 1993, which repealed § 83-1,105 and replaced it with § 29-2204. See §§ 83-1,105 and 29-2204 (Supp.1993). Section 29-2204(1)(a) (Supp.1993) provided that in imposing a sentence, the court shall [f]ix the minimum and maximum limits of the sentence to be served within the limits prescribed by law. See, also, § 29-2204(1)(a) (Reissue 1995). This statute abolished the minimum term provided by operation of law. State v. Urbano, supra . Under this sentencing scheme, the minimum term could be any term imposed by the court within the sentencing range. Id. If the minimum and maximum terms imposed by the court were the same number, the sentence was considered determinate. Id. This version of § 29-2204 did not provide a minimum sentence by operation of law when a definite term of years was imposed by the trial court. In 1997, § 29-2204 was amended, operative July 1, 1998, reinstating indeterminate sentencing by operation of law. This version of the statute provided, in relevant part, that in imposing sentence, the court shall: (a)(i) Fix the minimum and maximum limits of the sentence to be served within the limits provided by law for any class of felony ...; or (ii) Impose a definite term of years, in which event the maximum term of the sentence shall be the term imposed by the court and the minimum term shall be the minimum sentence provided by law. § 29-2204 (Supp.1997). In summary, Nebraska law mandated indeterminate sentencing by operation of law prior to 1993. From September 9, 1993, through June 30, 1998, determinate sentences were permissible and indeterminate sentencing was not required. Commencing on July 1, 1998, indeterminate sentencing by operation of law was reinstated and is the sentencing scheme currently in effect. See § 29-2204 (Cum.Supp.1998).