45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

RELATING TO CRIMINAL SENTENCING; PROVIDING A COURT WITH AUTHORITY TO DEPART FROM THE IMPOSITION OF A MANDATORY SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT FOR A HABITUAL OFFENDER; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE CRIMINAL SENTENCING ACT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 31-18-17 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 216, Section 6, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 77, Section 9 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 283, Section 1) is amended to read:

"31-18-17. HABITUAL OFFENDERS--ALTERATION OF BASIC SENTENCE.--

A. For the purposes of this section, "prior felony conviction" means:

(1) a conviction for a prior felony committed within New Mexico whether within the Criminal Code or not; or

(2) any prior felony for which the person was convicted other than an offense triable by court martial if:

(a) the conviction was rendered by a court of another state, the United States, a territory of the United States or the commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

(b) the offense was punishable, at the time of conviction, by death or a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year; or

(c) the offense would have been classified as a felony in this state at the time of conviction.

B. Any person convicted of a noncapital felony in this state whether within the Criminal Code or the Controlled Substances Act or not who has incurred one prior felony conviction which was part of a separate transaction or occurrence or conditional discharge under Section [31-20-7] 31-20-13 NMSA 1978 is a habitual offender and his basic sentence shall be increased by one year [and the sentence imposed by this subsection shall not be suspended or deferred]. The sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection shall not be suspended or deferred, unless the court makes a specific finding that justice will not be served by imposing a mandatory sentence of imprisonment and that there are substantial and compelling reasons, stated on the record, for departing from the sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection.

C. Any person convicted of a noncapital felony in this state whether within the Criminal Code or the Controlled Substances Act or not who has incurred two prior felony convictions which were parts of separate transactions or occurrences or conditional discharge under Section [31-20-7] 31-20-13 NMSA 1978 is a habitual offender and his basic sentence shall be increased by four years [and the sentence imposed by this subsection shall not be suspended or deferred]. The sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection shall not be suspended or deferred, unless the court makes a specific finding that justice will not be served by imposing a mandatory sentence of imprisonment and that there are substantial and compelling reasons, stated on the record, for departing from the sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection.

D. Any person convicted of a noncapital felony in this state whether within the Criminal Code or the Controlled Substances Act or not who has incurred three or more prior felony convictions which were parts of separate transactions or occurrences or conditional discharge under Section

[31-20-7] 31-20-13 NMSA 1978 is a habitual offender and his basic sentence shall be increased by eight years [and the sentence imposed by this subsection shall not be suspended or deferred]. The sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection shall not be suspended or deferred, unless the court makes a specific finding that justice will not be served by imposing a mandatory sentence of imprisonment and that there are substantial and compelling reasons, stated on the record, for departing from the sentence imposed pursuant to this subsection."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2002.