Mejoramiento de Sentencias por Convicciones Previas

Explicación Simple

Si alguien comete un delito y ya ha hecho varios antes, su castigo puede ser más severo. Si esos delitos anteriores son violentos, el castigo aumenta aún más.

Es como si un estudiante que siempre llega tarde a clase recibe un castigo más duro cada vez que se retrasa. Cuantas más veces se retrasa, más severo es el castigo.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan ha sido condenado tres veces por robo, y ahora enfrenta un cargo por asalto. Como ya tiene varias condenas, su sentencia podría ser más dura, especialmente si alguna de sus condenas anteriores fue por un delito violento.

Penalidades

La sentencia del delito principal puede ser aumentada, especialmente si hay condenas previas por delitos violentos.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

at the time of conviction of such prior offense. For the purpose of this section, if the principal felony is not classified it shall be enhanced to the class which has an equal maximum imprisonment. For the purposes of this section, if the maximum imprisonment for the principal felony falls between two classifications, the principal felony shall be enhanced to the class which has the less severe maximum authorized imprisonment.Source:SDC 1939, § 13.0611; SDCL, §22-7-1;SL 1976, ch 158, §7-2;SL 1977, ch 189, § 18;SL 2005, ch 120, § 383.22-7-8.Three or more additional felony convictions including one or more crimes of violence--Enhancement of sentence.If a defendant has been convicted of three or more felonies in addition to the principal felony and one or more of the prior felony convictions was for a crime of violence as defined in subdivision 22-1-2(9), the sentence for the principal felony shall be enhanced to the sentence for a Class C felony.Source:SDC 1939, § 13.0611; SDCL, §22-7-1;SL 1976, ch 158, §7-3;SL 1977, ch 189, § 19;SL 1981, ch 13, § 4;SL 1984, ch 166, § 1;SL 2005, ch 120, § 384.22-7-8.1.Three or more additional felony convictions not including a crime of violence--Enhancement of sentence--Limitation--Parole.If a defendant has been convicted of three or more felonies in addition to the principal felony and none of the prior felony convictions was for a crime of violence as defined in subdivision § 22-1-2(9), the sentence for the principal felony shall be enhanced by two levels but in no circumstance may the enhancement exceed the sentence for a Class C felony. A defendant sentenced pursuant to this section is eligible for consideration for parole pursuant to §24-15A-32if the defendant receives a sentence of less than life in prison.Source:SL 1984, ch 166, §