HB1320: Discretionary sentencing guidelines; midpoint for violent felony offenses, report, effective date.

Legislative Summary

Discretionary sentencing guidelines; midpoint for violent felony offenses. Clarifies the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission's (Commission) authority to recommend revisions to the discretionary sentencing guidelines based on historical sentencing data. The bill also requires the Commission to submit a report to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia by October 1, 2022, documenting the impact on sentencing guideline midpoints for each offense if the Commission were to recommend changes to the midpoints based on analysis of historical sentencing data. The provisions of the first enactment of the bill clarifying the Commission's authority to recommend revisions to the discretionary sentencing guidelines based on historical sentencing data has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2023.