NCJ Number
80040
Journal
Howard Journal Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: (1981) Pages: 160-169
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Recent research in the estimation of incapacitation effects are reviewed, with attention to two British studies and a California study involving inmate self-reports of crime.
Abstract
One British study by Roger Tarling (1980) examined the impact of differing sentence lengths on the number of convictions subsequently experienced by offenders. The study is flawed in a number of ways, including its assumption that recorded convictions are reflections of the extent of crime committed by ex-inmates. Because the extent of crime after release is not accurately measured, study conclusions are suspect. A British study by Brody (1976) considered whether judgments of dangerousness in an inmate's prison files accurately predicted dangerous behavior outside prison. Findings showed that dangerousness was not accurately predicted. Brody fails, however, to show that this finding has any implications for the effects of incapacitation and sentence length. The California study (Peterson et al, 1980) used inmate self-reports of crime in an attempt to measure incapacitation effects on the volume of crime committed. The questionable validity of self reports of crime makes the study conclusions uncertain. Overall, the studies reviewed support the conclusion of the 1979 study by Pease and Wolfson. This study concluded that it is improbable that incapacitation studies will significantly advance understanding of the extent of public protection afforded by sentences of imprisonment in ways likely to be helpful to sentencers. Two notes and 14 references are provided.