BILL NUMBER: SB 873	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 12, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Vasconcellos

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act relating to sentencing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 873, as amended, 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. 
The bill also would require the Judicial Council, the Attorney
General, and the University of California to assist the Legislative
Analyst in conducting the study. 
   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
Judicial Council, the Attorney General, and the University of
California (upon approval by the Board of Regents) shall assist the
Legislative Analyst in conducting the study.   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
also assess the manner in which the "three strikes" law is
implemented in representative urban, rural, and mixed urban-rural
counties in California.   The study shall utilize existing
resources of the participating agencies.