NCJ Number
119300
Date Published
1988
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This document reviews pretrial release and judicial sentencing options as a means to increase deterrence of crime and assure incarceration of serious criminal offenders.
Abstract
Recommendations and initiatives to help insure effective punishment and services for all offenders are presented. The four recommendations are: (1) to introduce a comprehensive 1989 anti-crime legislative package to increase certainty of punishment and deterrence of crime; (2) to implement a series of initiatives to relieve prison overcrowding and assure prison space for the most serious offenders; (3) to conduct a communications campaign to inform the general public and public officials of the problems of the criminal justice system and how these initiatives can make it more effective; and (4) to acknowledge that these problems demand long-term solutions. The Comprehensive Accelerated Screening and Assessment Initiative focuses on pretrial release through rapid identification of detainees who may be released under special conditions. The Pretrial Release Initiatives describes in detail efforts targeted at the release of detained persons with supervision. The Post-Conviction Initiatives outlines punishment and service options that should be the State's Judiciary as a means to provide timely punishment when sanctions different from prison or probation are in order. 14 charts and appendix.