NCJ Number
42511
Date Published
1977
Length
103 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT SENTENCE REVIEW PROCEDURES AND THEIR RESULTS. THE FREQUENCY AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF APPEALS, CONDITIONS FOR MODIFICATION, AND EFFECTS ON TRIAL COURTS ARE VIEWED.
Abstract
IN MASSACHUSETTS, EVERY DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO STATE PRISON TO SERVE A TERM OF TWO AND ONE-HALF YEARS OR MORE, NOT MANDATED BY LAW OR TO BE COMMITTED TO THE WOMEN'S REFORMATORY FOR FIVE YEARS OR MORE, HAS A RIGHT TO APPLY FOR SENTENCE REVIEW. IN CONNECTICUT, EVERY DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO SERVE A TERM OF ONE YEAR OR MORE IN PRISON OR THE REFORMATORY HAS THE RIGHT TO APPLY FOR REVIEW OF THAT SENTENCE. THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF SUCH REVIEW SYSTEMS IS TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SENTENCE DISPARITY. WHILE THE MEASUREMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF SENTENCE REVIEW IN REDUCING DISPARITIES IS ACKNOWLEDGED TO HAVE BEEN IMPRECISE, THE AUTHORS CONSIDER IT SAFE TO CONCLUDE THAT EXTREME DISPARITIES HAVE BEEN REDUCED. AS A CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTION, THE STUDY RECOMMENDS CLASSIFYING CRIMES, OFFENDERS, AND ATTENDANT SENTENCING TO BE GRAPHED SO AS TO PORTRAY THE RANGE OF SENTENCING ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICULAR OFFENSES. SUCH GRAPHS WOULD CAUTION JUDGES AND GIVE GUIDANCE TO REVIEW BOARDS IN IDENTIFYING EXTREME CASES OF SENTENCING....RCB