g caught. In juvenile court it takes five convictions before a car thief can receive more than 30 days detention. Upon the fifth conviction for auto theft, the offender receives a sentence of 15 to 36 weeks. The adult sentencing range for a first time offender charged with auto theft is 0 to 60 days in jail. Under the current sentencing guidelines, it takes seven convictions for auto theft before an offender faces one year in prison. Even then, the 12-month sentence becomes an actual sentence of eight months, after good time reductions are factored in. This is no more than a slap on the wrist.A simple solution to the increasing trend of grand theft auto would be to significantly raise the consequences of the crime. In adult sentencing Grand theft auto is ranked with a seriousness level of I, the lowest on the books. It shares this ranking with forgery, and "second degree" property crimes where the property has a value of over $250 and under $1,500. The average value of a stolen car is more than $5,000 according to FBI statistics. The current seriousness level makes this crime a bargain for the criminal. Like the adult sentencing system the juvenile sentencing system uses a numbering system, which lists the crimes seriousness. Rather than using Roman numerals, it ascribes a letter to each crime, ranging from A+ to E. Grand theft auto is currently a "C" under this system, with the result that it takes five convictions to be sentenced to a state JRA facility. By making the ranking a B, it would take three convictions for taking a motor vehicle to earn a commitment to JRA for a 15 to 36 week sentence. If prior convictions were counted as 2 points, and the seriousness level was increased to II, then it would take only three convictions for auto theft to earn a prison sentence, instead of seven convictions, as under present law. This proposal has little impact on the consequences to the first offender but represents a major change with how...
