NCJ Number
64861
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 383-389
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
SURVEYS IN TWO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS SHOWED THAT INMATES STRONGLY PREFER DETERMINATE SENTENCING OVER THE MORE COMMONLY USED INDETERMINATE SENTENCING.
Abstract
INDEPENDENT RANDOM SAMPLES OF INMATES WERE DRAWN FROM TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WITHIN KENTUCKY, WHERE 89 INMATES AGREED TO PARTICIPATE. A QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED TO SUBJECTS ASKED A NUMBER OF PERSONAL BACKGROUND AND OFFENSE-RELATED QUESTIONS AS WELL AS TWO ATTITUDINAL QUESTIONS ABOUT DETERMINATE SENTENCING AND REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS. INMATES WERE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF DETERMINATE SENTENCING IN BOTH THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE PRISON. A LARGE MAJORITY ALSO REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN REHABILITATIVE OR TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHILE INCARCERATED EVEN IF THE INDUCEMENT OF PAROLE HAD NOT BEEN PRESENT. PERHAPS THE MOST SURPRISING FINDING IN THE STUDY WAS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE INMATES WHO ARE THE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF INDETERMINATE SENTENCING POLICIES, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GRANTED PAROLE, ARE IN FAVOR OF DETERMINATE SENTENCING POLICIES; 75 PERCENT OF THOSE INMATES WHOSE PAROLE HAD BEEN DENIED INDICATED THAT THEY STILL WOULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMING. THE SURVEY INDICATES AN APPARENT READINESS AMONG INMATES IN BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE INSTITUTIONS TO ACCEPT REVISIONS IN SENTENCING POLICIES WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE UNCERTAINTIES CONCERNING THE DATE OF THEIR ANTICIPATED RELEASE. REFERENCES ARE GIVEN.