HB 287 Summary

• Changes Criminal Punishment Code sentencing guidelines from mandatory to advisory recommendations that judges may depart from based on mitigating or aggravating circumstances.

• Allows judges to impose sentences up to the statutory maximum for any offense when aggravating circumstances justify it, including probation or community control violations.

• Requires written explanations for any sentence departing from the lowest recommended permissible sentence, filed within 7 days of sentencing.

• Expands the list of mitigating circumstances justifying downward departures, including a new provision for nonviolent felonies with 60 or fewer sentence points when the defendant is amenable to drug court treatment.

• Takes effect July 1, 2017.