Términos Mínimos de Sentencia en Delitos

Explicación Simple

Cuando una persona es condenada por un crimen, un juez determina cuánto tiempo mínimo debe pasar en prisión. Este tiempo no puede ser más que el máximo permitido por la ley para ese crimen.

Es como cuando un entrenador fija un tiempo mínimo para que un jugador complete una vuelta en una carrera; el jugador no puede tardar más que el tiempo máximo que el entrenador ha establecido.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan fue condenado por un robo. El juez decide que deberá cumplir al menos 3 años en prisión, pero no más de 5, que es el máximo por ese delito. Después de cumplir parte de su condena, su elegibilidad para libertad condicional se revisará en base a ese tiempo fijo.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

(1) When the court commits a convicted person to the department of corrections on or after July 1, 1986, for an offense committed before July 1, 1984, the court shall, at the time of sentencing or revocation of probation, fix the minimum term. The term so fixed shall not exceed the maximum sentence provided by law for the offense of which the person is convicted.The court shall attempt to set the minimum term reasonably consistent with the purposes, standards, and sentencing ranges adopted under RCW 9.94A.850, but the court is subject to the same limitations as those placed on the board under RCW 9.92.090, 9.95.040 (1) through (4), 9.95.115, 9A.32.040, 9A.44.045, and chapter 69.50 RCW. The court's minimum term decision is subject to review to the same extent as a minimum term decision by the parole board before July 1, 1986.Thereafter, the expiration of the minimum term set by the court minus any time credits earned under RCW 9.95.070 and 9.95.110 constitutes the parole eligibility review date, at which time the board may consider the convicted person for parole under RCW 9.95.100 and 9.95.110 and chapter 72.04A RCW. Nothing in this section affects the board's authority to reduce or increase the minimum term, once set by the court, under RCW 9.95.040, 9.95.052, 9.95.055, 9.95.070, 9.95.080, 9.95.100, 9.95.115, 9.95.125, or 9.95.047.(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, not less than ninety days prior to the expiration of the minimum term of a person sentenced under *RCW 9.94A.712, for a sex offense committed on or after September 1, 2001, less any time credits permitted by statute, the board shall review the person for conditional release to community custody as provided in RCW 9.95.420.