NCJ Number
66304
Editor(s)
G B ADAMS,
J P KENNEY,
G F VITO,
G B ADAMS
Date Published
1979
Length
72 pages
Annotation
PROCEEDINGS OF A SEMINAR ON THE IMPACT OF DETERMINATE SENTENCING ON CORRECTIONS, INCLUDING FOUR PAPERS DESCRIBING THE EXPERIENCES OF MAINE, CALIFORNIA, INDIANA, AND MINNESOTA, ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE 2-DAY SEMINAR WAS TO PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS ADVISORY BOARD WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART INFORMATION ON DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAWS AND THEIR IMPACT ON SENTENCING PRACTICES AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE SEMINAR REPORT INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW; EDITED PRESENTATIONS BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATES NOTED ABOVE; AND SUMMARIES OF PANEL DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO THE PRESENTATIONS. EACH PAPER DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE PROVISIONS OF THE DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAW, AND SUMMARIZES AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE EFFECTS OF THE LAW ON SENTENCE SEVERITY AND DISPARITY, PRISON AND JAIL POPULATIONS, AND INMATE ATTITUDES. THE MAINE REPORT, WHICH IS PRESENTED IN PARTICULAR DETAIL, WITH SUPPORTING STATISTICS, CONCLUDES THAT DETERMINATE SENTENCING AND ABOLITION OF PAROLE HAS RESULTED IN LESS SEVERE BUT MORE DISPARATE SENTENCES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MAINE JUDGES, NOW ENTIRELY REPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING THE TIME EACH OFFENDER WILL SERVE, MAY BE MORE RELUCTANT TO IMPOSE HARSH SENTENCES THAN THEY WERE WHEN THEY SHARED THE DECISIONMAKING AUTHORITY WITH A PAROLE BOARD. A LIST OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS IS PROVIDED.