The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis.  The bill would amend the Penal Code to create a state jail felony offense for mail theft which can be enhanced based on the aggregate count of pieces of mail and certain other conditions.
 
A second degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 20 years; a third degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 10 years; and a state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for a term from 180 days to 2 years or a class A misdemeanor. In addition to confinement, most felonies have an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

 
Creating a criminal offense is expected to result in additional demands on the correctional resources of the counties or of the State due to an increase in individuals placed under supervision in the community, sentenced to terms of confinement in state correctional institutions, or placed under parole supervision. The bill may have a negative population impact by increasing the number of people on felony community supervision or incarcerated within state correctional institutions. Whether the bill would result in a significant population impact is indeterminate due to the lack of information on the aggregate count of pieces of mail sent through a common carrier and the number of persons to which the mail was addressed.