BILL NUMBER: SB 873	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Vasconcellos

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act relating to sentencing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 873, as introduced, Vasconcellos.  Sentencing: prior
convictions:  joint study.
   Existing law, known as the "3 strikes law" and codified in 2
initiative statutes, prescribes alternative prison sentencing for any
person convicted of a felony who has one or more prior serious or
violent felony convictions.
   This bill would require the Legislative Analyst, in cooperation
with the Judicial Council, the Attorney General, and the University
of California, to undertake a joint study to examine the costs and
benefits of the "3 strikes law" and to report its findings, as
specified, to the Legislature by July 1, 2000.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislative Analyst, in cooperation with the
Judicial Council, the Attorney General, and the University of
California (upon approval by the Board of Regents), shall examine the
costs and benefits of the "three strikes" law, and report its
findings to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2000.  The report
shall examine the extent to which reductions in serious crime can be
attributed to mandatory state incarceration policies, and shall
compare any ascertainable benefits from crime prevention through
incapacitation of various types of offenders with the costs of
incarcerating them.  The report shall also assess the degree to which
the "three strikes" law exacerbates selective law enforcement
problems, and the cost of corrective measures.  The study shall
utilize existing resources of the participating agencies.