Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that seeks alternatives to prison for persons convicted of class C and D felonies.

Highlights:

-Prohibits the Department of Corrections from imprisoning any offender who pleads guilty or is found to be guilty of a class D felony unless the person has at least 2 prior pleas or felony convictions within the state or any other jurisdiction (RSMO §217.023). -Requires persons found guilty of certain class C felonies to participate in drug court, participate in DWI court, receive a county jail sentence, or receive probation rather than being committed to the Department of Corrections (RSMO §217.023). -Establishes the County Corrections Stabilization Fund to fund county housing initiatives for inmates serving sentences on class D or certain class C felonies (RSMO §217.023). -Establishes the Criminal Justice Review Commission to study the effects of sentencing guidelines and to report any recommendations regarding proposed changes prior to August 28, 2013 (RSMO §217.1000). -Limits the cost for the electronic monitoring of prisoners to $8 per day per prisoner under the presiding county (RSMO §221.105). -Entitles a county to reimbursement for the cost of incarceration from the County Corrections Stabilization Fund considering the availability of money in the fund and if the county has reduced the number of persons in the Department of Corrections below the county baseline number (RSMO §217.1000). -Authorizes courts to sentence to jail or other approved penal institutions those persons convicted of Class D felonies not exceeding 2 years and those convicted of class C felonies for a maximum of 3 years (RSMO §558.011). -Authorizes the board of probation and parole to select nonviolent offenders for release upon their admission to a drug, DWI, or any other treatment court with final approval granted by the coordinating commission and the prosecuting attorney or circuit attorney; upon agreement of the drug court judge that any such offender will then be subject to the jurisdiction of the court as if on original probation (RSMO §559.015). -This is a substitute bill sponsored by the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence.

Full Bill Text