STATEMENT OF STEVEN SALKY, CHAIRPERSON, COMMITTEE ON THE U.S. SENTENCING GUIDELINES SECTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION CONCERNING SENTENCING GUIDELINE AMENDMENTS, MARCH 15, 1993

• NCJ Number: 144590
• Author(s): S Salky
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: American Bar Association
• Publication Type: Legislative Hearing/Committee Report
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A representative of the Criminal Justice Section Committee on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines of the American Bar Association (ABA) presented testimony before the U.S. Sentencing Commission in March 1993 that outlined the ABA's position on sentencing guideline amendments.

Abstract

The ABA recommends that the U.S. Sentencing Commission prioritize proposals to change sentencing guidelines and that the Commission continue to rely on working group reports generated by its staff. In addition, the ABA notes that the current sentencing guideline amendments do not include an assessment of prison impact, even though the Sentencing Reform Act explicitly requires that the Commission continually assess the impact of sentencing guidelines on the capacity of correctional facilities and services. The ABA supports several important proposals in the 1993 sentencing guideline amendments, particularly with respect to money laundering, drug offenses, alternatives to imprisonment, and the concept of basing sentences on "real offense conduct." The ABA opposes other proposals that focus on the "one book" rule and tax guidelines and a proposal on imposing similar sentences for larceny, theft, and fraud cases. Finally, the ABA strongly supports the concept of honesty in sentencing.