HB 654-FN-LOCAL - AS INTRODUCED

1999 SESSION

99-0658

05/02

HOUSE BILL 654-FN-LOCAL

AN ACT relative to the disposition or sentencing of persons under 18 years of age who commit certain crimes.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gilman, Graf 1

COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law

ANALYSIS

This bill increases the penalty options for juvenile offenders who are eligible to be tried as adults. Both a juvenile sentence and an adult sentence may be imposed, to be served consecutively.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

99-0658

05/02

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine

AN ACT relative to the disposition or sentencing of persons under 18 years of age who commit certain crimes.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Definition of Minor. Amend RSA 169-B:2, VI to read as follows:

VI. "Minor" means a person under the age of 17 for the purpose of RSA 169-B, and person under the age of 18 if sentenced by the court to extended juvenile justice.

2 New Paragraph; Definition of Extended Juvenile Justice. Amend RSA 169-B:2 by inserting after paragraph IX the following new paragraph:

X. "Extended juvenile justice" means the program of rehabilitation offered to a juvenile sentenced in superior court to serve a juvenile sentence until the age of majority and then, upon proof of rehabilitation, to be released on parole for the duration of the adult consecutive sentence. Without such proof or upon violation of parole, the adult sentence shall then be imposed.

3 Sentencing; Appropriate Rehabilitative Program. Amend RSA 169-B:4, I and the introductory paragraph of RSA 169-B:4, II to read as follows:

I. The court shall have jurisdiction over any minor with respect to whom a petition is filed under this chapter after the minor's seventeenth and before the minor's eighteenth birthday for an alleged delinquency offense committed before the minor's seventeenth birthday, provided no minor may be detained at or committed to the youth development center after the minor's seventeenth birthday, unless sentenced by the superior court pursuant to RSA 169-B:27.

II. The court may retain jurisdiction over any minor during the period after the minor's seventeenth birthday as justice may require for any minor who, prior to the minor's seventeenth birthday, was adjudicated delinquent and who is in need of or is engaged in an appropriate rehabilitative program:

4 Sentencing. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 169-B:4, IV to read as follows:

IV. With the exception of extended juvenile justice cases pursuant to RSA 169-B:27, the court shall close the case when the minor reaches age 17 or, if jurisdiction is extended pursuant to paragraph II, when:

5 Jurisdiction. Amend RSA 169-B:4, VI to read as follows:

VI. Notwithstanding sentences imposed by superior court under RSA 169-B:27, a minor may be subject to the extended jurisdiction of the court under RSA 169-B:4 for a period of time no longer than that for which an adult could be committed for a like offense or the minor reaches the age of 21, whichever occurs first. For purposes of this section, the time shall be calculated from the date of the original dispositional order.

6 Escape or Attempted Escape from Secure Facilities. Amend RSA 169-B:24, IV to read as follows:

IV. When the felony offense charged is first degree murder, second degree murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, first degree assault, second degree assault (except when the allegation is a violation of RSA 631:2, I(d)), aggravated felonious sexual assault, kidnapping, criminal restraint, robbery punishable as a class A felony, escape or attempts to escape from a secure facility or expedition therefrom with the use of force against a person, a violation of RSA 318-B:26, I(a) or (b), or negligent homicide under RSA 630:3, II, or when the minor is charged with any felony and, prior to the filing of the felony petition, the minor has been petitioned to the court on 4 or more occasions and adjudicated delinquent in 4 separate adjudicatory hearings which alleged misdemeanor or felony offenses, and the minor commits the act after the minor's fifteenth birthday, there shall be a presumption that the factors listed in RSA 169-B:24, I support transfer to the superior court.

7 New Paragraph; Assaults on Staff of Detention Facilities. Amend RSA 169-B:24 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

V. Any assault on staff or escape attempt in any incarceration or secure detention facility or expedition therefrom, which qualifies as a felony at the adult prison level shall also qualify as a felony at the juvenile level.

8 Treatment of Juveniles as Adults; Extended Juvenile Justice. Amend the section heading and paragraph I of RSA 169-B:27 to read as follows:

169-B:27 Treatment of Juvenile as Adult and Extended Juvenile Justice.

I. Any minor who has been tried and convicted as an adult shall henceforth be treated as an adult for all purposes in connection with any criminal offense with which said minor may be charged, with the exception that the court may, at its own discretion, notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, and as appropriate facilities are available, sentence the person under 17 years of age to extended juvenile justice.

9 New Paragraphs; Imposition of Extended Juvenile Justice. Amend RSA 169-B:27 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraphs:

II. The minor, if convicted, may at the discretion of the court receive both a juvenile sentence and one or more adult sentences. These sentences shall be served consecutively, with no parole eligibility available to the minor during the juvenile sentence. A pardon may be granted to the minor upon petition to the court, at the discretion of the court.

III. In determining a juvenile sentence, the court shall consider the recommendations of the department of youth development services if said person has previously resided at that institution. Sentencing shall have the presumption of denial of juvenile incarceration if guilt has been found on charges which were brought forward pursuant to RSA 169-B:46-a, relative to incorrigibility. The juvenile may declare a waiver of consideration of a juvenile sentence prior to sentencing.

IV. Upon reaching the age of 18, the youth development center may recommend parole if, in its judgment, the individual no longer poses substantial risk to society. If parole is granted, such parole shall remain in effect throughout the length of the adult sentences previously described. Such parole shall be subject to the same conditions of amendment and revocation as all adult parole. If parole is revoked, the individual shall then be committed to prison to serve the adult sentence or sentences.

10 New Section; Incorrigibility. Amend RSA 169-B by inserting after section 46 the following new section:

169-B:46-a Incorrigibility. The youth development center may petition the applicable juvenile court to act upon cases arising under RSA 169-B:24 in cases of staff abuse or other crimes committed which fall under RSA 169-B:24, IV to bring the person into the jurisdiction of the superior court for adult adjudication.

11 Repeal. RSA 169-B:4, IV(a), relative to minor's right to revoke consent, is repealed.

12 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2000.

LBAO

99-0658

2/16/99

HB 654-FN-LOCAL - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to the disposition or sentencing of persons under 18 years of age who commit certain crimes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Judicial Council and the Department of Corrections have stated this bill may increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2000 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local expenditures or state, county and local revenue.

METHODOLOGY:

The Judicial Council has indicated this bill significantly increases the opportunities under which a juvenile who at 17 commits an offense, may be sentenced to an extended term of juvenile justice. This bill will add to the complexity of cases potentially handled by the Indigent Defense System while down shifting costs from the adult criminal justice system. It is not possible to predict the actual number of occurrences which may result. The standard contract attorney rate is $220 for a juvenile case. If assigned counsel is used, the court rate of $60 per hour applies. If hearings are held after disposition, the rate of $165 for an "other" case applies.

The Department of Corrections is unable to determine the impact on incarceration and probation/parole supervision. The average cost of incarceration for FY 1998 was $19,029 per inmate, per year. The average cost of probation/parole supervision was $833 per offender, per year.