FACTORS LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN COMMITMENTS TO STATE CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY

• NCJ Number: 10923
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 108 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-NI-09-0001
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: American Justice Institute
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SANTA CLARA CRIMINAL JUSTICE PILOT PROGRAM

Annotation

FINDINGS INDICATE THAT SUBSIDY EARNINGS DECREASED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF INCREASED SUPERIOR COURT COMMITMENTS TO CALIFORNIA'S YOUTH AUTHORITY.

Abstract

THE INCREASE IN COMMITMENTS WAS EXPLAINED IN TERMS OF TWO GENERAL SETS OF CONDITIONS. THE FIRST SET OF REASONS INVOLVES THE INTERACTION OF A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHICH HAVE BEEN CREATING INCREASING PRESSURE UPON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. THEY INCLUDE A PROBATION SUBSIDY BASE RATE FORMULA WHICH WORKS TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, DISPROPORTIONATE GROWTH IN THE 8-24 YEAR OLD GROUP, INCREASING DRUG INVOLVEMENT BY THIS AGE GROUP, AND FELONY ARRESTS INCREASING AT A FAR FASTER RATE THAN GENERAL POPULATION GROWTH. THE SECOND SET OF REASONS INVOLVES NEAR-TERM CHANGES BETWEEN 1969 AND 1970. CHANGES IN SENTENCING PATTERNS ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASE IN COMMITMENTS DURING 1970. THE CHANGES IN SENTENCING PRACTICES WERE SAID TO BE A MORE IMPORTANT FACTOR THAN ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED IN SUPERIOR COURT DURING 1969 AND 1970. STATISTICAL DATA ARE PRESENTED IN GRAPHIC AND TABULAR FORM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)