Sexual molestation of children-penalties.

06LSO-0112.L1

FISCAL NOTE

Expenditure Increase is unknown due to an unknown number of cases.

Source of Expenditure Increase:

Unknown fiscal impact due to an unknown number of cases.  Should the courts impose sentences pursuant to the proposed subsections (e) and (f), there is a potential for significant fiscal impact due to increased costs for incarceration and the costs of constructing new prison beds.

Assumptions:

When the minimum sentence is increased for specific sex offender offenses, and the option of a mandatory minimum is utilized by the prosecutor (25 years in the case of first degree sexual assault, 15 years in the case of second degree assault, and 5 years in the case of third degree sexual assault), the potential exists for significantly increasing the “length of stay” for that population.  This would ultimately increase the number of prison beds needed in the system.

The formula that the department currently uses for projecting the number of needed beds would change because more beds would stay occupied.

Prepared by:   Brian Farmer, Department of Corrections

Phone:   777-5983