NCJ Number
12236
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 40 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1973) Pages: 36-38
Date Published
1973
Length
3 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS SYSTEMS TO DEAL WITH PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS WHO DO NOT VIEW CONFINEMENT AS A DETERRENT.
Abstract
STUDIES IN DALLAS, TEXAS ATTRIBUTE A MAJORITY OF THE MAJOR CRIMES COMMITTED IN THAT AREA TO REPEAT OFFENDERS, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ARRESTED, RELEASED ON BAIL, AND THEN REARRESTED FOR ANOTHER CRIME. WHEN ARRESTED, THE REPEAT OFFENDER IS CONTINUALLY ALLOWED TO GO FREE ON BOND WITH FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMIT ADDITIONAL CRIMES. CROWDED COURT CALENDARS WHICH DELAY TRIALS ALSO GIVE THE REPEAT OFFENDER MORE TIME ON THE STREET. IN LIGHT OF THIS SITUATION, THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS INCREASING BONDS FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS, BRINGING REPEATING HIGH-RISK OFFENDERS TO TRIAL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PROBATION OFFICERS SO THEY CAN PERSONALLY SUPERVISE THEIR PROBATIONERS, REFRAINING FROM DEALING OUT CONCURRENT SENTENCES TO REPEAT OFFENDERS, AND ESTABLISHING MORE COURTS TO DEAL WITH HABITUAL OFFENDERS.