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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 97-74

THE COURTS

PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION ON SENTENCING

[204 PA. CODE CH. 303]

Proposed Offense Gravity Scores for New Offenses and Drug Offenses

[27 Pa.B. 289]

   The Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing is hereby submitting proposed offense gravity scores (OGS) for new and amended offenses passed by the legislature during 1996. These proposed scores are for offenses that were not included in the proposed guideline revisions that were published in the July 20, 1996 edition (vol. 26, No. 29) of the Pennsylvania Bulletin and were the subject of public hearings in the Fall of 1996.

   The Commission is also proposing four changes to the recommendations for drug offenses: 1) that the exception for prescription pills be limited to Schedule II drugs (rather than for all schedules) for convictions under 35 P. S. § 780-113(a)(12); 2) that the categories for prescription pills be changed to align them better with the weight categories; 3) that the offense gravity score for convictions under 35 P. S. § 780-113(a)(12), (14) and (30) involving a schedule V drug be raised from 1 to 3 to make it consistent with the recommendation for simple possession; and 4) that the threshold for the lowest quantity of drugs be lowered from 2.5 grams to 1 gram for convictions under 35 P. S. § 780-113(a)(12), (14) and (30) when the drug is heroin.

   The procedure for amending the guidelines is mandated by 42 Pa.C.S. § 2155. This statute requires that all changes to the guidelines be published and that public hearings be held no sooner than thirty days and no later than sixty days from the date of this publication. The Commission will be holding a public hearing for persons to testify on the proposed changes at the following location:

HarrisburgFriday, February 21st, 1997 at 9:00 a.m.
Penn State Downtown Center
Room 101
234 North Front Street

   Arrangements to testify can be made by contacting the Commission via phone (814) 863-2797 (extension 1), fax (814) 865-0861 or E-mail (CWD2@.psu.edu). Written testimony should be addressed to Dr. John Kramer, Executive Director, Commission on Sentencing, P. O. Box 1200, State College, PA 16804. Persons who are testifying are requested to bring 30 copies of their testimony to the public hearing.

   The Commission will evaluate the proposed offense gravity scores for these offenses after consideration of the testimony and comments received. The proposed scores adopted by the Commission will then be incorporated into the entire package of proposed revisions and submitted to the General Assembly for its review, by publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. At that time, the proposed amendments would become effective within 90 days of their submission unless rejected by concurrent resolution by the legislature.

SENATOR DAVID W. HECKLER,   
Chair

Table 1:  Proposed offense gravity scores for new/amended offenses

TITLESECTIONOFFENSEOLDNEWPROPOSED1996EFFECTIVE
STATUTORYSTATUTORYOGSREGULARDATE
GRADEGRADESESSION
18907Possessing instruments of crime
  (c)  Unlawful body armornewF35Act 1996-98Sep. 9, 1996
182702(a)(6)Aggravated assault (fear SBI)newF26Act 1996-7Apr. 23, 1996
183304Criminal mischief
  (b)  >$150 under (a)(4)newM31Act 1996-198Feb. 18, 1997
183929Retail theft
  (b)(1)(v)>$2,000, firearm, motor vehiclenewF35Act 1996-200Feb. 18, 1997
183930Theft of trade secretsAct 1996-128Dec. 16, 1996
  (a)F3F27
  (b)M1F35
184105Bad checksAct 1996-201Feb. 18, 1997
  (c)(1)(ii)  $200-<$500SM31
  (c)(1)(iii)$500-<$1,000S/M2M22
  (c)(1)(iv)$1,000-<$75,000M2M13
  (c)(1)(v)$75,000 or moreM2F35
  (c)(2)*3rd/sub. <$75,000M2M13
  (c)(2)*3rd/sub.>$75,000 or moreM2F35
184107Deceptive/fraud. bus. practicesAct 1996-145Feb. 3, 1997
  (a.1)(1)(i)  >$2,000M2F35
  (a.1)(1)(ii)  $200-$2,000M2M13
  (a.1)(1)(iii)  <$200M2M22
  (a.1)(1)(iv)amount unknownM2M22
  (a.1)(3)(i)>$2,000, victim 60yrs. +M2F27
  (a.1)(3)(ii)$200-$2,000, victim 60yrs. +M2F35
  (a.1)(3)(iii)<$200, victim 60yrs. +M2M13
  (a.1)(3)(iv)amount unknown, victim 60 yrs. +M2M13
184116Copying; recording devicesAct 1996-194Feb. 18, 1997
  (g)(1)*100 or more pictures;
1,000 or more recording devicesM1F35
  (g)(1)*2nd; sub. conv.M1F27
  (g)(2)*any other violationM1M13
  (g)(2)*2nd; sub. conv.M1F35
184116.1Unlawful Operation of recordingAct 1996-194Feb. 18, 1997
  device in theater
  1st violationnewM13
  2nd/sub. violationnewF35
184118Washing titles [vehicles]newF34Act 1996-11May 20, 1996
184119Trademark counterfeitingAct 1996-128Dec. 16, 1996
   (c)(1)newM13
   (c)(2)Previous conv. >$100->$1,000newF35
or >$2,000-<$10,000
   (c)(3)2 or more previous conv.
>1,000 items or >$10,000newF27
184913Impersonating Notary PublicnewM13Act 1996-11May 20, 1996
186301Corruption of minors
  (a)(2)  Aid truancy, subseq. viol.newM31Act 1996-98Sep. 9, 1996
429793(e)Failure to register [Megan's Law]newF36Act 1996-46May 22, 1996
757132Prohibited activities, odometerAct 1996-11May 20, 1996
  first offense [subchapter D]M3F34
  subsequent offense [subchapterM1F34
757133Permissible activities, odometerAct 1996-11May 20, 1996
  first offense [subchapter D]M3F34
  subsequent offense [subchapterM1F34
757134Odometer disclosure requirementsAct 1996-11May 20, 1996
  first offense [subchapter D]M3F34
  subsequent offense [subchapterM1F34
757135Odometer mileage statementAct 1996-11May 20, 1996
  first offense [subchapter D]M3F34
  subsequent offense [subchapterM1F34
757136Conspiracy to violateAct 1996-11May 20, 1996
  first offense [subchapter D]M3F34
  subsequent offense [subchapterM1F34
757137Violation of unfair trade practicesAct 1996-11May 20, 1996
  first offense [subchapter D]M3F34
  subsequent offense [subchapterM1F34
753742Accidents involving death or personal injury (failure to stop)Act 1996-18Jun 3, 1996
  (b)(1)  failure to stopM3M13
  (b)(2)  resulting in SBIM1F35
  (b)(3)  resulting in deathM1F36
753742.1Accidents involving death or personal injury; no licenseAct 1996-8Apr. 23, 1996
  (b)(1)  suspended licensenewM22
  (b)(1)  no license issuednewM31
  (b)(2)*  SBI, suspended licensenewF34
  (b)(2)*  death, suspended licensenewF35
  (b)(2)*  SBI, no license issuednewM13
  (b)(2)*  death, no license issuednewM14
NOTE:  These proposed offense gravity scores (OGS) are an addendum to the proposed guideline changes that were published in the July 20, 1996 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin (vol. 26, No. 29)

* It is proposed that these offenses be subcategorized by the Commission.

Table 2:  Proposed Offense Gravity Scores for Select Drug Offenses

Crime 35 P. S.Offense
§ 780-113(a)DescriptionGradeGravity Score
(12)Acquisition of Controlled Substance by Fraud:
Heroin (1 gram-10 grams)F[6]/[8] 7
Heroin (<1 gram)F6
Other Narcotics of Schedule I and II, Cocaine, PCP,
Methamphetamine (<2.5-<10 gms)
F[8] 7
Other Narcotics of Schedule I and II, Cocaine, PCP,
Methamphetamine (<2.5g)
F6
Schedule VM[1] 3
Prescription Pills involving Schedule II drug (>100 pills)F10
Prescription Pills involving Schedule II drug (51-100 pills)F9
Prescription Pills involving Schedule II drug (21-[100] 50 pills)F[9] 8
Prescription Pills involving Schedule II drug (10-20 pills)F[7] 6
Prescription Pills involving Schedule II drug (1-9 pills)F[5] 6
Schedule VM[1] 3
(14)Delivery by Practitioner:
Heroin (1 gram-10 grams)F[6]/[8] 7
Heroin (<1 gram)F6
Other Narcotics of Schedule I and II, Cocaine, PCP, Methamphetamine (<2.5-<10 gms)F[8] 7
Other Narcotics of Schedule I and II, Cocaine, PCP, Methamphetamine (<2.5g)F6
Schedule VM[1] 3
(30)Possession With Intent to Deliver (PWID):
Heroin (1 gram-10 grams)F[6]/[8] 7
Heroin (<1 gram)F6
Other Narcotics of Schedule I and II, Cocaine, PCP, Methamphetamine (<2.5-<10 gms)F[8] 7
Other Narcotics of Schedule I and II, Cocaine, PCP, Methamphetamine (<2.5g)F6
Schedule VM[1] 3

NOTE:  These proposed offense gravity scores (OGS) are
an addendum to the proposed guideline changes
that were published in the July 20, 1996 edition of the
Pennsylvania Bulletin (vol. 26, No. 29)

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-74. Filed for public inspection January 17, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]



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