CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN IOWA - VOLUME 9 - PRISON POPULATION

• NCJ Number: 66725
• Author(s): D R FISCHER
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 172 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-MU-AX-0013; 79-MU-AX-0010
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Iowa Office for Planning and Programming
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CORRECTIONS RELIEF OF IOWA FOCUSING ON PRISON AND INSTITUTIONAL POPULATIONS ARE PRESENTED PRIMARILY IN STATISTICAL TABULAR FORM.

Abstract

THE MAIN EMPHASIS OF THE REPORT CONCERNS TWO OF THE CONCLUSIONS DRAWN BY THE COMMISSION. FIRST, THE CURRENT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY TO HOUSE INMATE POPULATIONS INTO THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. A NEW INSTITUTION IS NOT NECESSARY AT THIS TIME. SECOND, THE COMMISSION MAINTAINS THAT AT LEAST 15 TO 20 PERCENT OF THE CURRENT INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION COULD BE RELEASED TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. JUDICIOUS SCREENING CAN ENSURE THAT THIS WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH VIRTUALLY NO INCREASE IN THREAT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY. THE REPORT FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS IN IOWA; THE ORIGIN, ORGANIZATION, AND FINAL PRODUCT OF THE COMMISSION'S EFFORT WITH REGARD TO CORRECTIONS IN IOWA; STATISTICAL RESULTS OF A 2-YEAR STUDY OF SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONS; AND THE ROLE OF RISK AS A FACTOR IN FELONY SENTENCING IN IOWA. THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT FROM 1974 THROUGH 1976 THE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT RESIDENTIAL CORRECTIONS PROGRAM OPERATED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO IMPRISONMENT FOR NO MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF ITS CLIENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY DIVERTED FROM THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM NO MORE THAN 15 PERCENT OF THE CLIENTS. AMONG THE 7,495 ADULTS SENTENCED FOR FELONIES IN IOWA DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WAS A VIRTUALLY RANDOM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RISK OF RECIDIVISM OR PROBATION FAILURE AND THE PROBABILITY OF IMPRISONMENT. ALTHOUGH RISK WAS NOT A NOTABLE FACTOR IN DETERMINING WHO AMONG CONVICTED FELONS SHOULD BE IMPRISONED IN IOWA DURING 1974 THROUGH 1976, IT WAS A VERY DEFINITE FACTOR IN THE PLACEMENT OF RESIDENTIAL CORRECTIONS CLIENTS. AS A GROUP, FELONY OFFENDERS DIRECTLY SENTENCED TO RESIDENTIAL CORRECTIONS FACILITIES WOULD HAVE RATED AS WORSE RISKS FOR RELEASE ON PROBATION THAN THE GROUP OF OFFENDERS DIRECTLY SENTENCED TO STATE PRISONS. FOOTNOTES, TABLES, AND APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)