Sentencing Guidelines: What is Their Potential Impact On Federal Prisons and Should Their Implementation Be Delayed? Statement of Arnold P Jones Before the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice

• NCJ Number: 107302
• Author(s): A P Jones
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislative Hearing/Committee Report
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: GAO/T-GGD-87-25

Annotation

Testimony examines the impact of U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) guidelines on Federal prisons and a proposal that would delay guideline implementation from November 1, 1987, to August 1, 1988.

Abstract

The USSC believes that the guidelines will have a minimal effect on future prison populations. However, it expects significant growth in prison populations over the next 10 to 15 years because of mandatory minimum drug penalties, increases in prosecutions and convictions, and career offender sentencing provisions. The proposed delay in implementation would provide for more comprehensive field testing and training and permit the development and testing of the revised presentence investigation reports required by the guidelines. It also would permit more time for the development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system. The major argument against delay is that it would require legislation that could result in undesirable changes to or possible abolition of the proposed guidelines. Appendixes provide additional information on field testing, training, monitoring, and evaluation.