§15-9C-4. Objectives of the commission.

In performing its powers and duties, the commission shall pursue the following objectives:

(1) Promoting sentencing that more accurately reflects the time that an offender will actually be incarcerated;

(2) Reducing unwarranted disparity in sentences for offenders who have committed similar offenses and have similar criminal histories;

(3) Preserving meaningful judicial discretion in the imposition of sentences and sufficient flexibility to permit individualized sentences;

(4) Ensuring that sentencing judges in every jurisdiction in the state are able to impose the most appropriate criminal penalties, including correctional options programs for appropriate nonviolent offenders; and

(5) Determining whether the state needs to set out all criminal offenses in terms of priority and in order of severity and harm to society, and to provide alternatives to incarceration for certain offenses.