Crime victims: restitution: fine.

Existing law requires the court to order defendants convicted of any crime to pay a fine in the form of a penalty, as specified. Existing law additionally requires the court to order defendants to pay restitution to the victim or victims as well as a restitution fine, as specified. Existing law provides that the restitution fine shall be set at the discretion of the court and commensurate with the seriousness of the offense, but shall not be less than $200 and not more than $10,000, if the person is convicted of a felony, and not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, if the person is convicted of a misdemeanor. Existing law provides that the court shall impose the restitution fine unless it finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not doing so, and states those reasons on the record. Existing law requires that the restitution fine be deposited in the Restitution Fund in the State Treasury, a continuously appropriated fund. This bill would make the minimum restitution fine not less than $240 starting on January 1, 2012, $280 starting on January 1, 2013, and $300 starting on January 1, 2014, if the person is convicted of a felony, and not less than $120 starting on January 1, 2012, $140 starting on January 1, 2013, and $150 starting on January 1, 2014, if the person is convicted of a misdemeanor, and make other conforming changes. By increasing the amounts deposited into the Restitution Fund, this bill would make an appropriation.