CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ANALYSIS, 1965-1974-1975

• NCJ Number: 46998
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 39 pages
• Corporate Author: Los Angeles Police Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS OVERVIEW PRESENTS TABLES, CHARTS, AND GRAPHS ON INCIDENTS OF HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA AND LISTS SUPERIOR COURT SENTENCES GIVEN TO CRIMINALS.

Abstract

DATA ILLUSTRATE THE COSTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; DISPOSITION OF FELONY DEFENDANTS CONVICTED IN LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT FOR HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY IN 1965, 1974, AND 1975; NUMBER OF CRIMES REPORTED AND PERCENTAGES OF CONVICTED FELONS SENT TO PRISON IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY; AND SUPERIOR COURT CONVICTIONS BY TYPES OF DISPOSITIONS FOR HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY. IN ADDITION, DATA ON SENTENCES OF FELONY DEFENDANTS CONVICTED IN SUPERIOR COURT FOR HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY IN 1965, 1974, AND 1975; PERCENTAGE OF CONVICTIONS FOR HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY INVOLVING PROBATIONERS ALONE, PAROLEES ALONE, AND BOTH TOGETHER IN 1975; AND TIME SERVED PRIOR TO FIRST RELESE ON PAROLE FOR HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY IN 1965, 1974, AND 1975 ARE EXAMINED. IN THE BRIEF TEXT, THE AUTHOR HOLDS THAT SENTENCES FOR CONVICTED FELONS ARE TOO LENIENT AND THAT THE NEW SENATE BILL 42, WHICH REDUCES THESE SENTENCES AND THEREBY CUTS PRISON POPULATIONS AND STATE EXPENDITURES, WILL PROVE A FALSE ECONOMICAL MEASURE AS CALIFORNIANS EXPERIENCE INCREASED CRIME. THE JUDICIARY PERSISTS IN COMMITTING ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF DANGEROUS OFFENDERS TO PRISON. THE DATA IN THIS REPORT POINT TO THE URGENT NEED FOR ADDITIONAL REFORM IN SENTENCING PRACTICES, INCLUDING STRICTER LIMITATIONS ON JUDICIAL DISCRETION IN GRANTING PROBATION AND STIFFER PRISON TERMS FOR CONVICTED FELONS. ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN IS THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING USE OF PENAL CODE SECTION 17 (B) (4) WHICH GIVES THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY THE DISCRETIONARY POWER TO PROSECUTE THOSE FELONY CASES UNLIKELY TO RECEIVE FELONY CONVICTIONS AS MISDEMEANORS. THIS IS OFTEN CITED AS EVIDENCE OF A HIGH FELONY CONVICTION RATE, WHEN IN FACT IT ILLUSTRATES A SELECTIVE POLICY OF FELONY FILINGS. WHILE THE NUMBER OF FELONS PLACED ON PROBATION HAS RISEN MARKEDLY SINCE 1965, THERE IS MOUNTING EVIDENCE THAT THE PROGRAM IS INEFFECTIVE AS A METHOD OF REHABILITATION. (DMJ)