NCJ Number
44101
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 185-203
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF INFORMATION ON PAROLE AND ON SEVERAL DETERMINATE SENTENCING PROPOSALS CONCLUDES THAT PAROLE BOARDS CAN FORMULATE AND USE DECISION GUIDELINES AND THAT SENTENCING DISCRETION CANNOT BE ELIMINATED.
Abstract
GUIDELINES FORMULATED BY THE U.S. PAROLE COMMISSION DEMONSTRATE THAT RELEASE DECISIONS CAN BE STRUCTURED TO (1) ENHANCE EQUITY, (2) FACILITATE THE EXPLANATION FOR DECISION VARIANCE, AND (3) EXPOSE DECISION POLICY TO PUBLIC EVALUATION AND DEBATE. EMPIRICALLY, PAROLEES HAVE A HIGHER SUCCESS RATE OR LOWER PROPORTION OF NEW CONVICTIONS THAN THOSE RELEASED IN OTHER WAYS. TO WHAT EXTENT THIS IS DUE TO THE ABILITY OF PAROLE BOARDS TO SELECT GOOD RISK CASES AS OPPOSED TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPERVISION AS A RELEASE METHOD MUST AWAIT FURTHER RESEARCH. THE DETERMINATE SENTENCING PROPOSALS DISCUSSED IN THIS PAPER, INCLUDING THOSE OF INDIANA, MAINE, ILLINOIS, AND CALIFORNIA, APPEAR TO HAVE DISPLACED DISCRETION TO OTHER AREAS WHERE IT IS LESS VISIBLE AND, HENCE, LESS SUBJECT TO CONTROL. TABLES PRESENT STATISTICS ON PAROLE GUIDELINES, DETERMINATE SENTENCING TERMS, AND PAROLE PERFORMANCE FOLLOWUP (AS MEASUREED BY THE UNIFORM PAROLE REPORTS). NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).