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RSA 651:7-a · Racial Disparity in Sentencing Prohibited

Title
LXII: CRIMINAL CODE
Chapter
651 · SENTENCES
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
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651:7-a Racial Disparity in Sentencing Prohibited. –

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I.

Sentences imposed shall be proportional to the nature of the crime committed. Neither the defendant's race nor ethnicity shall be a factor considered in determining a sentence in a criminal case.

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II.

The commissioner of the department of corrections shall collect data on the race and ethnicity of defendants sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year or more since 2000 and shall produce an annual report beginning September 1, 2023 which shall be submitted to the attorney general, the supreme court, and the chairpersons of the senate judiciary committee and house criminal justice and public safety committee.

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III.

The report shall be available to the public, upon request, within 10 days of submission.

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IV.

The report shall include:

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(a)

Research and gather relevant statistical data and other information concerning the existence and impact of disparate treatment of nonwhite persons in the facilities under the control of the commissioner of the department of corrections. The statistical data shall include but not be limited to:

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(1)

The number of nonwhite persons serving a sentence for any period of time in the facility during the year.

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(2)

The percentage of nonwhite and white persons serving a sentence for any period of time in the facility during the year.

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(3)

The crime or crimes for which each of the white and nonwhite persons are serving a sentence.

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(4)

The length of the sentence for each of the nonwhite and white persons serving a sentence for any period of time in the facility during the year.

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(5)

The ages and genders of nonwhite and white persons serving a sentence for any period of time in the facility during the year.

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(b)

Identify the nonwhite and white persons by number only, not by name.

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V.

In this section, "nonwhite person" means a person of African, Latino, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Arab, Alaska native, or Asian descent. Source. 2024, 320:2, eff. Oct. 1, 2024. Insane Persons

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Source note

Source. 2024, 320:2, eff. Oct. 1, 2024. Insane Persons

Source history

  • 2024, 320:2, eff. Oct. 1, 2024. Insane Persons

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1061 amend · effective 2026-11-30

    ed or community-based alternatives to incarceration. 2 New Section; Commission to Study Alternatives to Incarceration for Nonviolent Offenders Who Are Primary Caregivers. Amend RSA 651 by inserting after section 25 the following new section: 651:25-a Commission to Study Alternatives to Incarceration for Nonviolent Offenders Who Are Primary Caregivers. I. There is hereby established a commission

  • 2026 HB186 add

    RSA 318-B:2-c[, or a personal-use amount of a regulated marijuana-infused product as defined in RSA 318-B:2-c, I(b)]. 14 New Section; Sentences; Annulment of Certain Arrests and Convictions for Cannabis. Amend RSA 651 by inserting after section 5-b the following new section: 651:5-c Certain Crimes Not to be Pursued; Dismissal. I. As used in this section: (a) “Cannabis” means “cannabis” as defined in RSA 318-F:1, II. (b) “Po

  • 2026 HB186-FN-A amend

    amount of a regulated marijuana-infused product as defined in RSA 318-B:2-c, I(b)]. 14 New Section; Sentences; Annulment of Certain Arrests and Convictions for Cannabis. Amend RSA 651 by inserting after section 5-b the following new section: 651:5-c Certain Crimes Not to be Pursued; Dismissal. I. As used in this section: (a) “Cannabis” means “cannabis” as defined in RSA 318-F:1, II. (b) “Poss

  • 2026 SB651 amend

    amount of a regulated marijuana-infused product as defined in RSA 318-B:2-c, I(b)]. 17 New Section; Sentences; Annulment of Certain Arrests and Convictions for Cannabis. Amend RSA 651 by inserting after section 5-b the following new section: 651:5-c Certain Crimes Not to be Pursued; Dismissal. I. As used in this section: (a) “Cannabis” means “cannabis” as defined in RSA 318-F:1, II. (b)

  • 2026 SB651-FN-A amend

    amount of a regulated marijuana-infused product as defined in RSA 318-B:2-c, I(b)]. 17 New Section; Sentences; Annulment of Certain Arrests and Convictions for Cannabis. Amend RSA 651 by inserting after section 5-b the following new section: 651:5-c Certain Crimes Not to be Pursued; Dismissal. I. As used in this section: (a) “Cannabis” means “cannabis” as defined in RSA 318-F:1, II. (b)

  • 2025 HB196 add

    s possession offenses. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Criminal Code; Sentences; General Provisions; Cannabis Convictions and Sentences. Amend RSA 651 by inserting after section 5-b the following new section: 651:5-c Annulment of Certain Arrests and Convictions for Cannabis Possession. I. Convictions and arrests for misdemeanor or violation-level offenses fo