Selective Incapacitation and the Serious Offender: A Longitudinal Study of Criminal Career Patterns

• NCJ Number: 114268
• Author(s): R A Haapanen
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 251 pages
• Grant Number(s): 83-IJ-CX-0034
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: California Dept of the Youth Authority
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

To test the feasibility of a policy of 'selective incapacitation' for reducing crime, this study examines the stability of the criminal careers of 1,581 serious offenders over 15-20 years.

Abstract

A policy of selective incapacitation holds that crime can be significantly reduced through sentencing policies that incarcerate habitual offenders for longer periods. This policy assumes the predictability of stable, prolific criminal careers over time, which, if interrupted by lengthy incarceration, can significantly reduce crime. To determine the stability of criminal careers among the study sample, information on officially recorded crimes was coded for all sample members over the followup period. Data indicate that high-rate offenders did not remain high-rate offenders, either in absolute terms or with respect to other offenders. Differences in arrest patterns by race and age suggest the importance of sociocultural and situational factors in determining patterns of criminal behavior across groups and over time. Such instability in criminal careers does not support the feasibility of a policy of selective incapacitation. Implications for future research are discussed. 44 tables, 11 figures, 49 references.