NCJ Number
68074
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF A COMPUTER FILE CONTAINING RECORDS OF 1,503 INMATES SHOWS THAT, FOR ALL INMATES RELEASED FROM THE MISSISSIPPI STATE PENITENTIARY BETWEEN JULY 1978 AND JULY 1979, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 2.2 YEARS.
Abstract
THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF SENTENCE WAS 6.0 YEARS. TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE RELEASED SERVED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND THE LENGTH OF STAY FOR NEW COMMITMENTS IS DECLINING SIGNIFICANTLY (FROM 22.5 MONTHS TO 19.9 MONTHS). NON-LIFERS SERVED, ON AN AVERAGE, 33 PERCENT OF THEIR SENTENCES, WHILE LIFERS SERVED 21 PERCENT. THIS, IN PART, REFLECTS DIFFERENCES IN PAROLE ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS FOR THE TWO GROUPS. ANALYSIS OF THE PRISON POPULATION INDICATES THAT AS THE ARMED ROBBERY AND DRUG LAWS RECENTLY ENACTED IN MISSISSIPPI BEGIN TO IMPACT ON RELEASE, AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WILL INCREASE. ALSO, AS THE BACKLOG IN THE COUNTY JAILS IS REDUCED, THE USE OF SHOCK PROBATION WILL DECLINE AND THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WILL INCREASE. THIS STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CONTAINS BOTH TABLES OF DATA AND SUMMARIES.