HB539 Summary

• Prohibits incarceration in the state penitentiary for probationers who have completed 6 months of probation and are revoked only for technical violations.

• Limits probation periods to a maximum of 2 years for misdemeanors and 5 years for felonies, including probation portions of split sentences.

• Provides intermediate sanction options for probation violations including warnings, modified conditions, short-term county jail confinement, community corrections programs, work release, community service, drug treatment, and intensive supervision.

• Allows currently incarcerated prisoners sentenced to the penitentiary based solely on technical probation violations to petition for resentencing if they completed 6 months of probation and have no disciplinary infractions or new charges.

• Appropriates $3,000,000 annually from the State General Fund to counties for community corrections programs, drug courts, work release programs, treatment programs, and county jail confinement costs.