The Legislature hereby finds, and declares to be the public policy of this State, that:
1. Sentencing and corrections policies should embody fairness, consistency, proportionality and opportunity.
2. The laws of this State should convey a clear and purposeful rationale regarding sentencing and corrections. The statutes governing criminal justice should articulate the purpose of sentencing, and related policies and practices should be logical, understandable and transparent to stakeholders and the public.
3. A continuum of sentencing and corrections options should be available, with imprisonment reserved for the most serious offenders and adequate community programs for diversion and supervision of other offenders.
4. Sentencing and corrections policies should be resource sensitive as those policies may impact costs, inmate populations and public safety. Criminal justice agencies should strive to effectively measure costs and benefits.
5. Criminal justice information should be a foundation for effective data driven sentencing and corrections policies.
6. Sentencing and corrections policies should reflect current circumstances and needs.
7. Strategies to reduce crime and victimization should involve prevention, treatment, health and labor and must endeavor to utilize all available federal, academic and private resources and expertise.
(Added to NRS by 2017, 4187)