Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB270

Introduced
2/21/23  
Refer
2/22/23  

Caption

Including acts that occur in the course of the taking of property in the crimes of robbery and aggravated robbery.

Impact

The proposed changes to K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-5420 are significant as they define robbery as knowingly taking property by force or threat, which can lead to legal consequences for a broader range of behaviors associated with theft. By including acts occurring during the 'taking' of property, the bill can potentially increase the number of incidents classified as robbery or aggravated robbery, leading to harsher penalties and more severe legal consequences for offenders. This could influence law enforcement practices and the judicial process concerning property crimes.

Summary

Senate Bill 270 aims to amend the existing criminal law concerning robbery and aggravated robbery in the state of Kansas. The bill seeks to define and clarify the circumstances under which these crimes are considered to have occurred, specifically stating that acts occurring in the course of taking property will be included under the definitions. This revision is crucial as it directly impacts the legal interpretation of robbery and can affect the severity and repercussions of such crimes within the state's criminal justice system.

Contention

While the amendments are intended to strengthen the legal framework around robbery offenses, there may be concerns regarding the implications for defendants. Critics might argue that the expanded definitions could lead to a misuse of the law or an overreach in prosecutions, particularly in cases where the distinction between theft and robbery becomes blurred. As such, there may be calls for additional safeguards in the law to ensure fair treatment of defendants, a consideration that highlights the balance between enhancing public safety and protecting individual rights.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB415

Creating the crime of organized retail crime, providing criminal penalties for violation thereof, increasing the criminal penalties for theft of certain property, including organized retail crime in the definition of racketeering activity under the Kansas racketeer influenced and corrupt organization act and authorizing the attorney general to prosecute crimes that are part of an alleged course of criminal conduct that occurred in two or more counties.

KS HB2144

Senate Substitute for HB 2144 by Committee on Judiciary - Creating the crimes of encouraging suicide and organized retail crime, providing criminal penalties for violation thereof, including organized retail crime in the definition of racketeering activity under the Kansas racketeer influenced and corrupt organization act and authorizing the attorney general to prosecute specified crimes that are part of an alleged course of criminal conduct that occurred in two or more counties.

KS SB512

To Amend The Law Concerning Robbery And Aggravated Robbery.

KS HB2272

Providing that no person shall be sentenced to death for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

KS SB245

Providing that no person shall be sentenced to death for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

KS SB211

Abolishing the death penalty and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

KS HB2349

Abolishing the death penalty and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

KS SB174

Increasing the criminal penalties for battery of a healthcare provider, adding the placing of controlled substances into pills into the definition of manufacture, increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing fentanyl and for manufacturing or distributing any controlled substances that are likely to be attractive to minors because of their appearance or packaging, creating a special sentencing rule to make sentences for distributing fentanyl presumptive imprisonment, excluding materials used to detect the presence of fentanyl, ketamine or gamma hydroxybutyric acid from the definition of drug paraphernalia, adding domestic battery and violation of a protection order to the crimes that a person can have the intent to commit when committing burglary or aggravated burglary, increasing criminal penalties for the crime of interference with law enforcement when the violation involves fleeing from a law enforcement officer and authorizing the attorney general to prosecute certain crimes that are part of an alleged course of criminal conduct that occurred in two or more counties.

KS HB2067

Increasing the felony loss thresholds for certain property crimes to match the crime of theft.

KS HB1455

Relating To Robbery In The First Degree.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.