Ch. 563                                    1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(II) THE DISTRIBUTION AND MEDIAN AVERAGE OF CURRENT
SENTENCES SERVED FOR EACH CRIMINAL OFFENSE;

(III) TRENDS IN THE GROWTH OF THE CORRECTIONAL
POPULATION, INCARCERATION RATES, AND CORRECTIONAL COSTS;

(IV) TRENDS IN THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND OFFENSE PROFILE OF
INCARCERATED OFFENDERS, INCLUDING TRENDS IN INMATES' MOST SERIOUS
CURRENT CONVICTION OFFENSE;

(V) THE PREVALENCE OF INTERMEDIATE PUNISHMENTS IN
JURISDICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THE NUMBER OF OFFENDERS
ASSIGNED TO SUCH SANCTIONS; AND

(VI) TRENDS IN REPORTED CRIME AND CRIME RATES, ARRESTS
AND ARREST RATES, CONVICTIONS AND CONVICTION RATES, AND VICTIMIZATION
RATES.

(2) (3) (I) THE COMMISSION SHALL DEVELOP A CORRECTIONAL
POPULATION SIMULATION MODEL TO PREDICT ASSIST IN DETERMINING THE STATE
AND LOCAL CORRECTIONAL RESOURCES THAT:

1. ARE REQUIRED UNDER CURRENT SENTENCING
PRACTICES AND THOSE LAWS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES RELATING TO
SENTENCING, PAROLE AND MANDATORY SUPERVISION; AND

2. WOULD BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE
COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

(II) IF THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD RESULT IN
STATE AND LOCAL INMATE POPULATIONS THAT WOULD EXCEED THE OPERATING
CAPACITIES OF AVAILABLE FACILITIES, THEN THE COMMISSION SHALL PRESENT
ADDITIONAL SENTENCING MODEL ALTERNATIVES CONSISTENT WITH THESE
CAPACITIES.

(II) THE COMMISSION SHALL APPLY THE MODEL TO A GIVEN FACT
SITUATION OR THEORETICAL CHANGE IN THE SENTENCING LAWS OR POLICIES
WHEN REQUESTED TO DO SO BY THE CHAIRPERSON OR THE COMMISSION AS A
WHOLE.

(III) THE CHAIRPERSON SHALL MAKE THE MODEL AVAILABLE TO
RESPOND TO ANY INQUIRY FROM A STATE LEGISLATOR OR FROM THE SECRETARY
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.

(3) THE COMMISSION SHALL DEVELOP AND RECOMMEND A
STRUCTURED SENTENCING MODEL CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICY GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION FOR USE BY
SENTENCING COURTS AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES IN DETERMINING THE MOST
APPROPRIATE SENTENCE TO BE IMPOSED ON A CRIMINAL OFFENDER. IN
DEVELOPING THE STRUCTURED SENTENCING MODEL, THE COMMISSION SHALL:

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