PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 563

(3) (2) THE SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONAL PROCESS SHALL
PURSUE ITS POLICY GOALS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES AND THE
FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

(I) PROMOTE TRUTH IN SENTENCING THROUGH A SENTENCING
STRUCTURE THAT ENSURES THAT THE SENTENCES IMPOSED WILL DETERMINE THE
SENTENCES SERVED;

(I) PROMOTE SENTENCING THAT MORE ACCURATELY REFLECTS
THE TIME THAT AN OFFENDER WILL ACTUALLY BE INCARCERATED;

(II) CONCENTRATE PRISON CAPACITY ON THE INCARCERATION OF
VIOLENT AND CAREER OFFENDERS;

(III) REDUCE UNWARRANTED DISPARITY IN SENTENCES FOR
OFFENDERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED SIMILAR OFFENSES AND HAVE SIMILAR
CRIMINAL HISTORIES;

(IV)   PRESERVE MEANINGFUL JUDICIAL DISCRETION IN THE
IMPOSITION OF SENTENCES AND SUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY TO PERMIT
INDIVIDUALIZED SENTENCES; AND

(V)     ENSURE THAT SENTENCING JUDGES IN EVERY JURISDICTION
IN THE STATE ARE ABLE TO IMPOSE THE MOST APPROPRIATE CRIMINAL PENALTIES
BY DEVELOPING A FULL CONTINUUM OF CREDIBLE SANCTIONS, INCLUDING
INTERMEDIATE PUNISHMENTS, INCLUDING CORRECTIONAL OPTIONS PROGRAMS
FOR APPROPRIATE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS;,

(VI) ENSURE THE CREDIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
INTERMEDIATE PUNISHMENTS THROUGH STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF SENTENCE
CONDITIONS AND ENHANCED INTERAGENCY COORDINATION;

(VII) ELEVATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF VICTIMS OF CRIME AND THE
IMPACT OF CRIME ON VICTIMS AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INCREASED
NOTIFICATION AND PARTICIPATION PROCEDURES, INCREASED EMPHASIS ON
RESTITUTION PAYMENTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AS CRIMINAL SANCTIONS, AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF OTHER CONCEPTS OF "RESTORATIVE JUSTICE";

(VIII) INCREASE THE USE AND ENFORCEMENT OF ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS, SUCH AS FEES, FORFEITURES, AND MEANS BASED FINES, TO BE
COLLECTED AFTER RESTITUTION PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS ARE MADE IN FULL; AND

(IX) ENSURE A RESPONSIBLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SENTENCES
AND CORRECTIONAL RESOURCES.

(G) (1) THE COMMISSION SHALL GATHER DATA AND OTHER AVAILABLE
INFORMATION RELEVANT TO STATE SENTENCING PATTERNS AND PRACTICES,
INCLUDING;

(I) THE DISTRIBUTION AND MEDIAN AVERAGE OF CURRENT
SENTENCES IMPOSED FOR EACH CRIMINAL OFFENSE;

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