Reduce Sentences for Abuse Victims

Section 1. Section 60.12 of the penal law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows: § 60.12 Authorized disposition; alternative [indeterminate] sentence [of

imprisonment]; domestic violence cases.

1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, where a court is imposing sentence upon a person pursuant to section 70.00, 70.02 [upon a conviction for an offense enumerated in subdivision one of such section], 70.06 or subdivision two or three of section 70.71 of this title, other than for an offense defined in [article one hundred thirty of this chapter] section 125.26, 125.27, subdivision five of section 125.25, or article 490 of this chapter, or for an offense which would require such person to register as a sex offender pursuant to article six-C of the correction law, an attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense, and is authorized or required pursuant to [such section] sections 70.00, 70.02, 70.06 or subdivision two or three of section 70.71 of this title to impose a [determinate] sentence of imprisonment [for such offense], the court, upon a determination following a hearing that (a) at the time of the instant offense, the defendant was [the] a victim of domestic violence subjected to substantial physical, sexual or psychological abuse [by the victim or intended victim of such offense,] inflicted by a member of the same family or household as the defendant as such term is defined in subdivision one of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law; (b) such abuse was a significant contributing factor [in causing the defendant to commit such offense and] to the defendant's criminal behavior; (c) [the victim or intended victim of

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD00863-01-9

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such offense was a member of the same family or household as the defendant as such term is defined in subdivision one of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law, may, in lieu of imposing such determinate sentence of imprisonment, impose an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment in accordance with subdivisions two and three of this section.] having regard for the nature and circumstances of the crime and the history, character and condition of the defendant, that a sentence of imprisonment pursuant to section 70.00, 70.02 or 70.06 of this title would be unduly harsh may instead impose a sentence in accordance with this section.

A court may determine that such abuse constitutes a significant contributing factor pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision regardless of whether the defendant raised a defense pursuant to article thirty-five, article forty, or subdivision one of section 125.25 of this chapter.

At the hearing to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced pursuant to this section, the court shall consider oral and written arguments, take testimony from witnesses offered by either party, and consider relevant evidence to assist in making its determination. Reliable hearsay shall be admissible at such hearings.

2. [The maximum term of an indeterminate sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision one of this section must be fixed by the court as follows:] Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence pursuant to section 70.02 of this title, the court may impose a definite sentence of imprisonment of one year or less, or probation in accordance with the provisions of section 65.00 of this title, or may fix a determinate term of imprisonment as follows:

(a) For a class B felony, the term must be at least [six years] one year and must not exceed [twenty-five] five years;

(b) For a class C felony, the term must be at least [four and one-half years] one year and must not exceed [fifteen] three and one-half years;

(c) For a class D felony, the term must be at least [three years] one year and must not exceed [seven] two years; and

(d) For a class E felony, the term must be [at least three years] one year and must not exceed [four] one and one-half years.

3. [The minimum period of imprisonment under an indeterminate sentence imposed pursuant to subdivision one of this section must be fixed by the court at one-half of the maximum term imposed and must be specified in the sentence] Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for a class A felony offense pursuant to section 70.00 of this title, the court may fix a determinate term of imprisonment of at least five years and not to exceed fifteen years.

4. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a determinate term of imprisonment of at least five years and not to exceed eight years.

5. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision three of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a determinate term of imprisonment of at least five years and not to exceed twelve years.

6. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a

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determinate term of imprisonment of at least one year and not to exceed three years.

7. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for a class A felony offense pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision three of section 70.71 of this title, the court may fix a determinate term of imprisonment of at least three years and not to exceed six years.

8. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence pursuant to subdivision six of section 70.06 of this title, the court may fix a term of imprisonment as follows:

(a) For a class B felony, the term must be at least three years and must not exceed eight years;

(b) For a class C felony, the term must be at least two and one-half years and must not exceed five years;

(c) For a class D felony, the term must be at least two years and must not exceed three years;

(d) For a class E felony, the term must be at least one and one-half years and must not exceed two years.

9. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence for a class B, C, D or E felony offense pursuant to section 70.00 of this title, the court may impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions of subdivision two of section 70.70 of this title.

10. Except as provided in subdivision seven of this section, where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence pursuant to subdivision three of section 70.06 of this title, the court may impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions of subdivision three of section 70.70 of this title.

11. Where a court would otherwise be required to impose a sentence pursuant to subdivision three of section 70.06 of this title, where the prior felony conviction was for a felony offense defined in section 70.02 of this title, the court may impose a sentence in accordance with the provisions of subdivision four of section 70.70 of this title.

§ 2. Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of subdivision 2 of section 70.45 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 7 of the laws of 2007, are amended to read as follows:

(a) such period shall be one year whenever a determinate sentence of imprisonment is imposed pursuant to subdivision two of section 70.70 of this article or subdivision nine of section 60.12 of this title upon a conviction of a class D or class E felony offense;

(b) such period shall be not less than one year nor more than two years whenever a determinate sentence of imprisonment is imposed pursuant to subdivision two of section 70.70 of this article or subdivision nine of section 60.12 of this title upon a conviction of a class B or class C felony offense;

(c) such period shall be not less than one year nor more than two years whenever a determinate sentence of imprisonment is imposed pursuant to subdivision three or four of section 70.70 of this article upon conviction of a class D or class E felony offense or subdivision ten of section 60.12 of this title;

(d) such period shall be not less than one and one-half years nor more than three years whenever a determinate sentence of imprisonment is imposed pursuant to subdivision three or four of section 70.70 of this article upon conviction of a class B felony or class C felony offense[;] or subdivision eleven of section 60.12 of this title;

(e) such period shall be not less than one and one-half years nor more than three years whenever a determinate sentence of imprisonment is

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imposed pursuant to subdivision three of section 70.02 of this article or subdivision two or eight of section 60.12 of this title upon a conviction of a class D or class E violent felony offense or subdivision four, five, six, or seven of section 60.12 of this title;

(f) such period shall be not less than two and one-half years nor more than five years whenever a determinate sentence of imprisonment is imposed pursuant to subdivision three of section 70.02 of this article or subdivision two or eight of section 60.12 of this title upon a conviction of a class B or class C violent felony offense.

§ 3. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section 440.47 to read as follows: § 440.47 Motion for resentence; domestic violence cases.

1. (a) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, any person confined in an institution operated by the department of correction and community supervision serving a sentence with a minimum or determinate term of eight years or more for an offense committed prior to the effective date of this section and eligible for an alternative sentence pursuant to section 60.12 of the penal law may, on or after such effective date, submit to the judge or justice who imposed the original sentence upon such person a request to apply for resentencing in accordance with section 60.12 of the penal law. Such person must include in his or her request documentation proving that she or he is confined in an institution operated by the department of corrections and community supervision serving a sentence with a minimum or determinate term of eight years or more for an offense committed prior to the effective date of this section and that she or he is serving such sentence for any offense eligible for an alternative sentence under section 60.12 of the penal law.

(b) If, at the time of such person's request to apply for resentencing pursuant to this section, the original sentencing judge or justice is a judge or justice of a court of competent jurisdiction, but such court is not the court in which the original sentence was imposed, then the request shall be randomly assigned to another judge or justice of the court in which the original sentence was imposed. If the original sentencing judge is no longer a judge or justice of a court of competent jurisdiction, then the request shall be randomly assigned to another judge or justice of the court.

(c) If the court finds that such person has met the requirements to apply for resentencing in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the court shall notify such person that he or she may submit an application for resentencing. Upon such notification, the person may request that the court assign him or her an attorney for the preparation of and proceedings on the application for resentencing pursuant to this section. The attorney shall be assigned in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of section seven hundred seventeen and subdivision four of section seven hundred twenty-two of the county law and the related provisions of article eighteen-A of such law.

(d) If the court finds that such person has not met the requirements to apply for resentencing in paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this section, the court shall notify such person and dismiss his or her request without prejudice.

2. (a) Upon the court's receipt of an application for resentencing, the court shall promptly notify the appropriate district attorney and provide such district attorney with a copy of the application.

(b) If the judge or justice that received the application is not the original sentencing judge or justice, the application may be referred to

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the original sentencing judge or justice provided that he or she is a judge or justice of a court of competent jurisdiction and that the applicant and the district attorney agree that the application should be referred.