NCJ Number
107472
Date Published
1985
Length
80 pages
Annotation
This study examined the implications of the Washington Sentencing Reform Act (SRA) for the treatment of offenders through interviews with policymakers, professional staff, and offenders and site visits.
Abstract
Among respondents there was conflict between those who saw SRA as hostile to the provision of treatment for offenders and those who saw it as neutral. While the SRA is a reform in sentencing practices and not a statement of the goals of corrections, its enactment has been associated with other trends such as declining funding for treatment programs, get-tough attitudes among the public, and doubts about the effectiveness of treatment. In addition, the SRA's rhetoric represents a significant philosophical shift in that it rejects discretionary powers designed to protect the public and rehabilitate offenders for a policy of determinate, equitable, and predictable punishment. It is recommended that even within this philosophy, attempts should be made to make punishment more fair and effective by using alternatives such as intensive supervision programs and by offering offenders practical assistance, counseling, and opportunities to participate in rehabilitative programs. 31 footnotes and 43 references.