The commission shall adopt guidelines for fines or other lawful economic sanctions, within the limits established by law, which shall be considered by the sentencing court in determining the appropriate sentence for defendants who plead guilty or nolo contendere to or who are found guilty of felonies and misdemeanors. The guidelines shall do all of the following:
(1) Specify the range of fines or other lawful economic sanctions, applicable to crimes of a given degree of gravity.
(2) Specify a range of fines or other lawful economic sanctions of increased amount for defendants previously convicted or adjudicated delinquent for one or more misdemeanor or felony offenses committed prior to the current offense. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "previously convicted or adjudicated delinquent" shall include any finding of guilt or adjudication of delinquency whether or not sentence has been imposed or disposition ordered prior to the commission of the current offense.
(3) Prescribe variations from the range of fines applicable on account of aggravating or mitigating circumstances.
(4) Prescribe community service alternatives which may be imposed in lieu of all or part of the fines where the sentencing court finds the defendant lacks the ability to pay all or part of the fine.
(July 17, 2007, P.L.123, No.37, eff. 120 days)
2007 Amendment. Act 37 added section 2154.3.
Cross References. Section 2154.3 is referred to in section 9721 of this title.