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The Court uses sentencing guidelines to make sure that the punishment is fair and in line with sentences throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Guidelines are based on two factors:
There are two additional categories of prior-record score for anyone with a serious record: Repeat Felony Offender (RFEL) and Repeat Violent Offender (REVOC) which carry higher guidelines. Enhancements to sentences may apply when deadly weapons are possessed or used during certain offenses. The sentencing guidelines can be found on the internet here. Unfortunately, the site does not currently include the matrices. In addition, the application of the sentecing guidelines is complex. There are also possible mandatory sentences to consider. Whether sentences for multiple offenses are served consecutively or concurrently is also an issue of huge importance. Some offenses also merge for sentecing purposes. A sentence with a maximum period under two years is called a county sentence and is generally served in the York County Prison in east York on Concord Road. If the sentence is two years or greater it is considered a state sentence and is usually served in a state correctional institution such as the one in Camp Hill. If you are serving a county sentence you are generally eligible for time off for good behavior, known as “good time credit”; defendants are routinely released upon serving the minimum sentence unless there has been some infraction of the rules during the time of incarceration. However, a state prisoner does not enjoy that benefit. In fact, the Pennsylvania State Parole Board can decide that you should serve additional time beyond your minimum sentence.
The amount of time that a person will serve beyond a minimum sentence in the state prison system is a subject of much "lore" in prison. Ultimately, it depends on the prisoner's adjustment to prison and his effort at rehabilitation while incarcerated and the State Parole Board. Share this page:         |