NCJ Number
156571
Date Published
1991
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A 1991 conference brought 150 Washington policymakers together to hear the recommendations of national experts on punishment options.
Abstract
The speakers focused on the punishment system in the United States, the punishment continuum in Delaware, the experiences of New York and Arizona with day fines, the role of day reporting centers, and the outlook for Washington State. Participants agreed that Washington has experienced a great increase in its prison, jail, and community supervision populations over the last decade. Although the population under punishment for crime has increased, overall crime rates have remained stable over the same decade. Overcrowded prison and jail conditions are driving the search for punishment options and alternatives in Washington and other States. Drug-related convictions and probation revocations have significantly affected correctional populations, especially in the last 3 years. Finally, alternative sentencing practices and intermediate sanctions are means of appropriately punishing offenders while providing retribution and public safety to the community. Figures and photographs