INCAPACITATION OF THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER - A STATISTICAL EXPERIMENT

• NCJ Number: 40055
• Journal: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 22-34
• Author(s): S VAN DINE; S DINITZ; J CONRAD
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT MANDATORY IMPRISONMENT OF CAREER AND REPETITIVELY VIOLENT OFFENDERS FOR LENGTHY PERIODS OF TIME, CALLED INCAPACITATION, HAS ON REDUCING CRIME RATES.

Abstract

THE STUDY INVOLVED A GROUP OF ADULT OFFENDERS WHO HAD BEEN INDICTED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO, IN 1973. A SERIES OF HYPOTHETICAL SENTENCING POLICIES WERE TESTED, FROM THE MOST STRINGENT - A FIVE YEAR MANDATORY SENTENCE ON ANY PRIOR FELONY CONVICTION, WHETHER VIOLENT OR NOT - TO FAR LIGHTER SENTENCES TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF ADULT INCAPACITATION-ORIENTED POLICIES ON THIS COHORT OF VIOLATORS. THE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT THE MOST STRINGENT OPTION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NO MORE THAN 4 PERCENT OF THE VIOLENT CRIMES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN 1973. REASONS FOR THIS MINIMAL IMPACT OF THE INCAPACITATION STRATEGY ARE DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP