CALIFORNIA - GUIDANCE IN SENTENCING - THE PRE-SENTENCE DIAGNOSTIC OBSERVATION PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 18876
• Author(s): R M DICKOVER; K A DURKEE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 62 pages
• Corporate Author: California State Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A SURVEY OF THE UTILIZATION AND IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM WHICH GIVES CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL COURTS THE OPTION OF OBTAINING A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND SENTENCE RECOMMENDATION PRIOR TO SENTENCING OF THE OFFENDER.

Abstract

THE COURTS MAY SEND THE CONVICTED OFFENDER TO A RECEPTION -GUIDANCE CENTER (RGC) FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO 90 DAYS. DURING THIS TIME, THE RGC STAFF PREPARES THE DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION. THIS REPORT INCLUDES COMPARISONS OF THE PROGRAM CASES IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN GUIDANCE CENTERS FOR 1964-71, AND AN ANALYSIS OF RETURNS TO PRISON FROM PROBATION FOR CASES PROCESSED IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN GUIDANCE CENTERS. SUCH FACTORS AS GROWTH IN UTILIZATION OF THE PROGRAM, ACCEPTANCE BY THE COURTS OF RGC RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DIFFERENCES IN PATTERNS OF RECOMMENDATIONS BETWEEN THE GUIDANCE CENTERS ARE CONSIDERED. SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN PATTERNS OF RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FOUND BETWEEN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN GUIDANCE CENTERS. HOWEVER, THIS DIFFERENCE WAS FOUND TO BE GREATLY REDUCED IN 1972. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE NUMBER OF LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN REDUCED BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF DIVERSION AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.