It is the sentencing policy of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that:

1. (1) The primary objective of sentencing shall be to maintain public safety and hold offenders accountable while reducing recidivism and criminal behavior and improving outcomes for those offenders who are sentenced;
2. (2) Reduction of recidivism and criminal behavior is a key measure of the performance of the criminal justice system;

3. (3) Sentencing judges shall consider:

   1. (a) Beginning July 1, 2013, the results of a defendant's risk and needs assessment included in the presentence investigation; and
   2. (b) The likely impact of a potential sentence on the reduction of the defendant's potential future criminal behavior;
4. (4) All supervision and treatment programs provided for defendants shall utilize evidence-based practices to reduce the likelihood of future criminal behavior; and
5. (5) All supervision and treatment programs shall be evaluated at regular intervals to measure and ensure reduction of criminal behavior by defendants in the criminal justice system.

Effective: June 8, 2011

History: Created 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 2, sec. 1, effective June 8, 2011.