NCJ Number
56851
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 70 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 125-135
Date Published
1979
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF 324 ADULT AND 126 JUVENILES OFFENDERS FINDS THAT FEW CRIMES WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF EACH ADULT HAD BEEN GIVEN A MINIMUM 5-YEAR SENTENCE AT TIME OF THE PREVIOUS CRIME. THE DATA ARE DIFFERENT FOR JUVENILES.
Abstract
THIS TWO-PART DISCUSSION FIRST ADDRESSES THE CURRENT PLEA FOR LONGER SENTENCES FOR ADULTS CONVICTED OF TWO OR MORE CRIMES. THIS HABITUAL CRIMINAL THEORY SUGGESTS THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF PERSONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF CRIMES. STUDIES SUPPORTING THIS VIEW ARE BRIEFLY REVIEWED. THEN TWO ANALYSES ARE RUN ON VIOLENT CRIMES REPORTED IN 1973 IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. THE FIRST STUDIED 2,892 VIOLENT OFFENSES CLEARED BY THE ARREST OF 342 ADULTS. OF THESE 110, OR 32.2 PERCENT, HAD PRIOR ADULT FELONY CONVICTIONS, OF WHICH 36 WERE VIOLENT. FEW COULD HAVE BEEN INCAPACITATED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE CRIMES THEY COMMITTED. THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT AS FEW AS 3.7 PERCENT OF THE 2,892 OFFENSES WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE OFFENDERS HAD BEEN INCARCERATED FOR A MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS AT THE TIME OF THEIR PREVIOUS OFFENSE. A SIMILAR ANALYSIS WAS THEN RUN ON 2,622 VIOLENT OFFENSES CLEARED BY THE ARREST OF 126 JUVENILES. IT SHOWS A 3-YEAR INCARCERATION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED 22.2 PERCENT OF THE OFFENSES, A 5-YEAR INCARCERATION 26.2 PERCENT. THIS SLIGHT DIFFERENCE REFLECTS THE FACT THAT MOST JUVENILE CRIME IS COMPRESSED INTO THE LATER YEARS OF ADOLESCENCE. THE DISCUSSION UNDERSCORES THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF LONGER INCAPACITATION FOR ADULT OFFENDERS AND ADDRESSES THE PROBLEMS OF LONG-TERM PRISON SENTENCES FOR JUVENILES. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN REFERENCES. (GLR)