NCJ Number
7342
Date Published
1969
Length
204 pages
Annotation
STUDY OF MALE ADULT OFFENDERS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNED TO EXAMINE VARIABLES WHICH INFLUENCE AN INVESTIGATOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
Abstract
THE STUDY UTILIZES FOUR GENERAL CATEGORIES OF INDICANTS INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. THEY INCLUDE THE PROBATION OFFICER'S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CLIENT, HIS FEELINGS ABOUT THE CLIENT AND THE CASE IN GENERAL, AND SOME PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEPUTY HIMSELF. THE FACT THAT THE OFFENSE ITSELF WAS A FELONY WAS VERY IMPORTANT AS THERE WERE MARKED DIFFERENCES IN RECOMMENDATION RATES BETWEEN FELONIES AND MISDEMEANORS. PERHAPS MOST NOTEWORTHY WAS THE FACT THAT A THIRD OF ALL FELONIES RECEIVED A SPLIT SENTENCE RECOMMENDATION WHILE VERY FEW MISDEMEANANTS DID. IN TERMS OF OBJECTIVE DATA ABOUT THE DEFENDANT, THIS STUDY STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE FEDERAL PROBATION FINDINGS THAT THE SUBJECT'S PRESENT OFFENSE, PRIOR RECORD, AND GENERAL STABILITY ARE KEY INFLUENCES ON THE PROBATION OFFICER'S RECOMMENDATION. THE MAIN CONTRIBUTION OF THIS PROJECT WAS THE CLEAR EMPHASIS IT PUT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBJECTIVE DATA,