WEST virginia Legislature
2017 regular session
Introduced
House Bill 2873
By Delegate Rowe
[Introduced March 9, 2017;
Referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-11-16a, relating to alternate sentencing for nonviolent felony offenders.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-11-16a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING CRIMES.
§61-11-16a. Alternate sentencing for nonviolent felony offenders.
Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a sentencing judge, following a hearing and with written findings issued, may order a nonviolent felony offender to serve a minimum sentence of one year in a correctional facility or a term up to one year in jail regardless of other specific minimum sentences which may be available for the underlying offense.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow certain alternate sentencing for nonviolent felony offenders.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.