Senate Concurrent Resolution 583

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE CONSULTING GROUP ON CRIMINAL CODE REVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI JUDICIAL ADVISORY STUDY COMMITTEE TO REVIEW CRIMINAL SENTENCING AS DONE IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

WHEREAS, the Consulting Group on Criminal Code Revision of the Mississippi Judicial Advisory Study Committee has been working for several years on a Model Penal Code based proposal for revision of the Mississippi criminal code; and

WHEREAS, the work of the consulting group is moving toward the phase in which the group will recommend a sentencing structure component for the proposal; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of this Legislature to stem the erosion of public confidence in our criminal justice system and to ensure the fairness and appropriateness of the sentences imposed upon conviction; and

WHEREAS, the goals of reform should be to provide an underlying rationale for sentencing, to enhance the consistency and certainty of sentencing, and to make efficient use of the state's penal resources; and

WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Legislature that the State of North Carolina has enacted sentencing reform by the adoption of a sentencing grid; and

WHEREAS, an investigation of structured sentencing should be a part of the work of the consulting group in proposing any sentencing guidelines:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That

we do hereby memorialize the Consulting Group on Criminal Code Revision of the Mississippi Judicial Advisory Study Committee to study sentencing reform in North Carolina and the North Carolina structured sentencing grid as a part of the consulting group's work.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the consulting group, to the President of The Mississippi Bar and to the Chairman of the Judicial Advisory Study Committee.