NCJ Number
29659
Date Published
1974
Length
52 pages
Annotation
THIS FACTUAL ANALYSIS OF LIFE TERM PRISONERS ASSESSES THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, ADJUSTMENT TO PRISON LIFE, AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PROGRAMS, CHANCES FOR PAROLE, AND THE RISK THEY PRESENT.
Abstract
MUCH OF THE MATERIAL FOR THIS STUDY IS GLEANED FROM RESPONSES TO A SURVEY OF THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENTS OF ALL 50 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. OVER 80 PERCENT OF THE JURISDICTIONS REPORTED THAT LIFERS' ATTITUDES AND THEIR ADJUSTMENT TOWARDS PRISON LIFE ARE AS GOOD AS OR, IN MOST CASES BETTER THAN THOSE OF OTHER PRISONERS. TEN LIFER ORGANIZATIONS IN VARIOUS STATE PRISONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF THEIR PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES. A TABLE IS PRESENTED THAT SHOWS HOW MANY YEARS EACH STATE REQUIRES LIFERS TO SPEND IN MAXIMUM SECURITY BEFORE THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR MINIMUM SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS. SIXTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS STATE THAT THERE IS NO MINIMUM TIME. THE SECTIONS ON EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY A TABLE WHICH LISTS THE AVAILABILITY OF PROGRAMS IN EACH STATE. THE DISCUSSION OF PAROLE ELIGIBILITY INCLUDES, FOR EACH JURISDICTION, INFORMATION ON THE LOCAL STATUTE CITATION, PAROLE AUTHORITY, YEARS TO INITIAL PAROLE HEARING, AND THE EARLIEST PAROLE ELIGIBILITY DATE. DATA ON THE AVERAGE TIME SERVED ON A LIFE SENTENCE AND THE SUCCESS RATE OF PAROLED LIFE TERM PRISONERS ARE ALSO GIVEN FOR EACH JURISDICTION. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN INFORMATION ON LIFE-TERMERS RELEASED IN ARIZONA FROM 1912-1974 AND A BILBIOGRAPHY.