Category: Sentencing

But Did the Jury Know? The Kansas Supreme Court’s Narrow Interpretation of “Proper” Defensive Admissions When Determining Criminal Punishment

State v Nunez, No. 125,141 (Kan. Aug. 30, 2024). Author: Madi Stapleton, Staff Editor Issue:  Can a sentencing court rely on a defendant’s admission to increase his or her sentence when the facts contained in the admission were never presented …

The Clock Starts Now: Kansas Supreme Court Rules Defendants are Now Entitled to Jail Time Credit for All Time They Spend Incarcerated While Their Cases are Pending Disposition.

State v. Hopkins, No. 124,851, 2023 WL 6933634 (Kan. Oct. 20, 2023). Clayton Anderson, Staff Editor Issue:  Is an award of jail-time credit limited to the time a defendant spends in custody “solely” on the charge that is …

$5,000 or $15,000? The Application of JVTA Assessment Fines on a Per-Count Basis

Rachel Vande Kieft, Staff Edtior
The Tenth Circuit interprets the JVTA to apply on a per-count basis.

Changing the Rules in the Middle of the Game: The Ex Post Facto Clause and Clarifying State v. Reese

State v. Patton, No. 120,434, (Kan. Feb. 11, 2022). Issue:  In State v. Reese, the Kansas Supreme Court held that courts should apply the version of Kansas’ DUI sentencing provisions—K.S.A. 8-1567—in effect at the time of sentencing, even …

Two Paths for Calculating Criminal History: Path of Admission Relieves State from Producing Additional Evidence

Lexi Christopher, Staff Editor State v. Corby, No. 122,584 (Kan. Jan. 21, 2022) Issue: A presentence investigation report (PSI) listed two prior convictions under K.S.A. § 8-1568.  However, the PSI did not specify under which subsection the violations …

Challenging Prior Convictions in Kansas Sentencing: Who Has the Burden, and When?

Jeremiah Kemper, Staff Editor State v. Roberts, No. 121,682, (Kan. Nov. 19, 2021) Issue: Under K.S.A. § 21-6814(c), when a defendant challenges the constitutionality of their prior convictions at or before their initial sentencing hearing, the State has …

Compassionate Release in Prisons: A Moot Point After COVID-19 Infection

Author: Noelle Daniel, Staff Editor United States v. Mendy Read-Forbes, No. 20-3104 (10th Cir., Feb. 8, 2021) Issue:  A defendant requested to be released into immediate home confinement because of the dangers she faced if she contracted COVID-19. …

Court of Appeals Greenlights Legislature on Severe Punishments for Failing to Register

State v. Genson, No. 121,014, (Kan. Ct. App., Dec. 18, 2020). Author: Ryan Gordon, Associate Editor Issue: Is the Kansas Offender Registration Act (KORA) unconstitutional because it criminalizes failure to register as a level six person felony without …

There Is No Review of the Evidence Surrounding Prior Out-of-State Convictions When Determining Criminal History

Author: Randall Willnauer, Staff Editor State v. Gales, No. 119,302 (Kan. Dec. 4, 2020) Issue: Kansas courts score a defendant’s prior criminal history by determining, in part, whether a defendant’s out-of-state offenses were person or nonperson felonies. This …

No Retroactive Application: Probation Revocation and the 2019 Amendments

Author: Parker Bednasek, Staff Editor State v. Dominguez, No. 121,618, (Kan. Ct. App. Aug. 28, 2020) Issue: Prior to 2019, Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22-3716 (c)(1)(A)–(D)[1] required a court to impose both a jail sanction and a prison …