NCJ Number
165531
Journal
Structured Sentencing Statistical Bulletin Issue: 1 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Data from 1995 revealed that 15,071 felons and 137,173 misdemeanants were convicted under North Carolina's structured sentencing system, which aims to increase the time served for felons and misdemeanants sent to prison, increase the use of prison for violent offenders, use less expensive punishments for nonviolent offenders.
Abstract
The felons were 63.6 percent black and 88 percent male, while about 49 percent of the misdemeanants were black, about 42 percent were white, and 81 percent were male. Sixty percent of the felons and a similar percentage of the misdemeanants were under age 30. About 29 percent of the felons received an active punishment, about 46 percent received an intermediate punishment, and 24.5 percent received a community punishment. About 15 percent of the misdemeanants received an active punishment, 5 percent received an intermediate punishment, and about 80 percent received a community punishment. Intermediate punishments received a term of supervised probation plus at least one additional sanction such as special probation, intensive supervision probation, electronic house arrest, a military-style training program, a community penalties plan, a day reporting center, or a residential facility. Forty-one percent of the felons and 18 percent of the misdemeanants were ordered to pay restitution. Property offenses accounted for 39.4 percent of the felony convictions, crimes against persons for 16.5 percent, and public order and other offenses for 7.2 percent. Figures