Structured Sentencing Monitoring System Report for Felons: January Through December 1996

• NCJ Number: 170361
• Author(s): D Meagher; K B Herrin; J H Madler
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 63 pages
• Sale Source: North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Cmssn
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BJS State Court Report

Annotation

This report examines data on offenders convicted of felonies under North Carolina's structured sentencing system during 1996; information is provided on the number of felony convictions by month, demographic characteristics of offenders, punishment types imposed, and sentence conformity.

Abstract

Data indicate 22,926 offenders were convicted of felonies under structured sentencing during 1996. About 87 percent of offenders were male; 45 percent were under 26 years of age, 28 percent were under 21 years of age, and 62 percent were black. Nearly 29 percent of felony offenders received an active punishment, 44 percent received an intermediate punishment, and 27 percent received a community punishment. Of the four crime types (person, property, drug, and other), offenders convicted of a person offense were most likely to receive an active punishment and least likely to receive an intermediate or a community punishment. Offenders convicted of a property offense were most likely to receive an intermediate punishment, while offenders convicted of a drug offense were most likely to receive a community punishment and least likely to receive an active punishment. Approximately 83 percent of all active sentences fell within the presumptive range; 9.5 percent fell within the mitigated range; and slightly more than 7 percent fell within the aggravated range. Nearly 11 percent of offenders received consecutive sentences, felony breaking and entering was the most frequently occurring serious crime associated with habitual felony convictions, 15 death and 34 life without parole sentences were imposed, drug trafficking convictions accounted for 1 percent of all felony convictions, 23 percent of offenders were ordered to perform community service, and 43 percent of offenders were ordered to pay restitution. Appendixes contain demographic data, a map of North Carolina's judicial divisions and districts, and additional information on intermediate and community punishments. Endnotes, tables, and figures