NCJ Number
26524
Date Published
Unknown
Length
71 pages
Annotation
PROJECT DESIGNED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VARIABLES OF CERTAINITY, SEVERITY, AND CELERITY OF PUNISHMENT RELATE AT ALL OR HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE COMMISSION AND INCIDENCE OF VARIOUS CRIMES.
Abstract
THE SELECTED VARIABLES FOR MEASUREMENT INCLUDED TIME SERVED VERSUS ORIGINIAL SENTENCE, OFFENSE TRACKING RELATIVE TO VARIOUS POSSIBLE DISPOSITIONS OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT POINTS OF THE CONTINUUM, AND SEVENTUAL COMMITMENTS RELATED TO AN ORIGINAL OFFENSE FOR WHICH AN ARREST WAS MADE OR FOR WHICH A CASE WAS FILED. THE RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED BY PROCESSING THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY LE-JIS FILE (LAW ENFORCEMENT - JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM) DATA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION'S RELEASE FILE DATA FOR MARICOPA AND PIMA COUNTIES. THIS DATA IS REPORTED AND DISUCSSED IN THIS CHAPTER WITH IDENTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS AND ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT WAS FOUND THAT A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF CHARGE DISPOSITIONS WERE BEING DETERMINED THROUGH MEANS OTHER THAN JUDICIAL ACTION (MOSTLY THROUGH REDUCTION OF THE CHARGE IN RETURN FOR A PLEA OF GUILTY) AND THAT MANY CONVICTS ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON PRIOR TO SERVING THE MINIMUM SENTENCE DUE TO GOOD BEHAVIOR TIME, CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED ELSEWHERE, OR OTHER SENTENCE CUTTING INITIATIVES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDER STATUTORILY PROHIBITING PLEA BARGAINING AND PLEAS OF GUILTY TO LESSER OFFENSES AND ESTABLISHING CATEGORIES OF CRIMES WITH SENTENCE RANGES AND ALLOWING GUILTY PLEAS TO LESSER CHARGES ONLY WITHIN THAT CATEGORY. INSURING INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND CONSTANT MONITORING OF RECIDIVISTS AND PROVIDING FOR CLASSIFICATION OF INCARCERANTS AND PRE-RELEASE SELECTION/ APPLICATION OF THE REHABILITATION PROGRAM WHICH WILL BEST ASSIST THE RE-ENTRY OF THE SUBJECT INTO SOCIETY ARE ALSO SUGGESTED. SUMMARY-CHARGE DISPOSITION AND SENTENCING DATA FOR 19 DIFFERENT OFFENSES IS PRESENTED BY OFFENSE.