You are here: / / Court Did Not Abuse Discretion In Not Sentencing Pursuant to Jenna’s L...

Court Did Not Abuse Discretion In Not Sentencing Pursuant to Jenna’s Law Even Though Defendant Qualified​

The Second Department, over a dissent by Justice Balkin, affirmed a determinate sentence of five years in prison.  The sentencing court chose not to apply Penal Law 60.12 (Jenna’s Law) which allows indeterminate terms of imprisonment for first-time violent felons if the victim’s domestic violence was a factor in the commission of the crime (criteria met by the defendant).  The sentencing court noted that the defendant would probably never commit another crime, but imposed the sentence as a deterrent to others:

While the court accurately noted that the sentence would have limited deterrent and rehabilitative impact on this particular defendant, the court’s aim in imposing the sentence was, in large part, to deter others from engaging in similar misconduct. Indeed, the court stated at sentencing that “[s]ociety certainly must be concerned with self-help, violent behavior that is not sanctioned by law.” Since the court viewed general deterrence as an overriding sentencing principle, we cannot say that the emphasis was erroneous or that the interest of justice calls for a reduction in the defendant’s sentence …. People v Sheehan, 2013 NY Slip Op 03859, 2nd Dept, 5-29-13

 

You might also like
STORED SHEETROCK PANELS WHICH FELL OVER ON PLAINTIFF DID NOT CONSTITUTE THE KIND OF ELEVATION/GRAVITY-RELATED INCIDENT COVERED BY LABOR LAW 240(1) (SECOND DEPT). ​
THE CONDITIONAL DIRECTIVE THAT FATHER BE AWARDED SOLE CUSTODY IF MOTHER DID NOT RETURN FROM SWEDEN WITH THE CHILD IS NOT ENFORCEABLE; A CHANGE IN CUSTODY MUST BE BASED ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO PUNISH A PARENT (SECOND DEPT).
DEFENSE COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING TO MOVE TO SUPPRESS TANGIBLE EVIDENCE SEIZED PURSUANT TO A SEARCH WARRANT WHICH WAS ISSUED BASED UPON UNWARNED STATEMENTS MADE BY DEFENDANT, STATEMENTS WHICH HAD BEEN SUPPRESSED BY THE TRIAL COURT (SECOND DEPT).
CONTRACT WAS ENFORCEABLE DESPITE PARTIES’ EXPECTATION A MORE FORMAL CONTRACT WOULD BE EXECUTED LATER, PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO CONFORM THE COMPLAINT TO THE PROOF AT TRIAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).
MOTION TO AMEND THE NOTICE OF CLAIM IN THIS SLIP AND FALL CASE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED, THE NOTICE ADDED A NEW THEORY OF CAUSATION (SECOND DEPT).
COMPLAINANT’S ACTUAL EMPLOYER WAS ADDED TO THE EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION PROCEEDING MORE THAN ONE YEAR AFTER TERMINATION, THE RELATION-BACK DOCTRINE DID NOT APPLY, DISCRIMINATION FINDING ANNULLED (SECOND DEPT).
THE DEFENSE OF LACK OF STANDING WAS NOT RAISED IN THE ANSWER AND WAS THEREFORE WAIVED, JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE, SUA SPONTE, DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT ON THAT GROUND (SECOND DEPT).
WIFE’S MOTION TO BE SUBSTITUTED FOR HER DECEASED HUSBAND TO ENFORCE THE PAYMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT IN HER HUSBAND’S SLIP AND FALL CASE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED (SECOND DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

10-Year Period for Predicate Felony Tolled by Incarceration​ Failure to Raise Denial of Constitutional Right to Present a Complete Defense...