NCJ Number
128116
Date Published
1991
Length
32 pages
Annotation
A sample of 964 offenders sentenced between July 1 and December 31, 1985 was used to study the effects of the Washington Sentencing Reform Act (SRA). The cases were analyzed by factors including sex, race, and age as well as offense; each case was also coded for violent versus nonviolent offense.
Abstract
The SRA was designed to send more violent offenders to prison for longer terms while emphasizing alternatives to institutionalization for nonviolent offenders. The law contains explicit directions for converting nonprison total confinement sentences to alternatives to total confinement. The data suggested that conversion of total confinement to partial confinement or community service hours was the exception for nonviolent sentences and reasons for nonconversion were often not given. Conversion of postsentence jail time to community service hours reduced the average expected length of time spent in jail by 5 days or 6 percent of the sentence. Community supervision after total confinement was required in most cases, and a majority of the sample remained under Division of Community Corrections jurisdiction even after the community supervision period ended. Violations of sentence conditions, supervision requirements, and financial obligations were common. The study confirmed that alternatives to institutionalization are not being maximized and that significant criminal justice resources are being expended in dealing with offender violations. 26 tables, 5 figures, and 1 appendix