NCJ Number
194743
Date Published
2001
Length
130 pages
Annotation
This report provides data in terms of time served and sentences imposed by offense and offense categories mostly for the years 1991 through 2000 in the State of Illinois.
Abstract
Part I of this report presents sentencing and population data for Illinois to demonstrate how determinate sentencing and other statutory practices contribute to the continuing growth of the prison population. At the end of 1977, the population was 10,982. The December 31, 2000 population reached 45,281, an annual growth rate of 6.4 percent since 1977. This expansion in number is largely a consequence of the number and length of Murder, Class X, and Class 1 sentences imposed since determinate sentencing began in 1978. Escalation in drug sentences, inmates with a life or death sentence, habitual child sex offenders and child sex offenders, and indeterminate inmates who remain incarcerated also contribute to the continual expansion in population. Part II of this report presents length of stay information. Over the last 10 years, the awarding of supplemental meritorious good time educational good conduct credits, and earned time has contributed greatly to reducing length of incarceration. Also, time served was reduced for 1,346 inmates who graduated from the 3 Impact Incarceration Program facilities during 2000. On average, their prison stay is 7 months shorter than similar inmates who do not go through the boot camp program. Part III of this report presents the sentences imposed. The number of sentences imposed declined in 2000 for the second year in a row. Decreases have been largest for Murder/Attempted First Degree Murder, and the main Class X, as well as some Class 1 and Class 2 drug offenses. Increases in the number of prison sentences imposed were predominantly for Residential Burglary (Class 1), Forgery (Class 3), and the Class 4 offenses of Driving While under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, Driving with a Suspended License, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and other Class 4 offenses. The average sentence length fell to 3 years or less. 25 figures, 63 tables, 2 appendices