Sentencing and Unwarranted Disparity: An Empirical Assessment of the Long-Term Impact of Sentencing Guidelines in Minnesota (From Academically Speaking, Criminal Justice Related Research by Florida's Doctoral Candidates, 1993, P 39-46, 1994)

• NCJ Number: 154484
• Author(s): L Stolzenberg; S J D'Alessio
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• Sale Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Conventional wisdom holds that Minnesota has achieved its goal of neutrality in criminal sentencing, but previous studies have been limited by their prolific use of pretest-posttest research designs and their inadequate operationalization of sentencing disparity.

Abstract

Data for this study were obtained from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Preguideline and postguideline data were calibrated into monthly intervals. Variables included unwarranted disparity, an interaction term for offense seriousness and criminal history, personal versus property crime, and use of a weapon. The findings show that Minnesota's sentencing guidelines have dramatically effectuated sentencing equivalence in terms of prison length decision. The guidelines have also reduced disparity for the no prison/prison judicial decision, but to a lesser degree. However, sentencing equality diminished over time for the no prison/prison sentencing outcome. This finding suggests a need for increased monitoring of judicial compliance with the guidelines and stricter adherence to the principle of just deserts. 1 table, 2 figures, 7 notes, and 19 references