TRIAL JUDGES' CONFERENCE - SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, 95TH CONGRESS, 2ND SESSION, OCTOBER 14, 1978

• NCJ Number: 60394
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 61 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: COMMITTEE PRINT

Annotation

THIS CONGRESSIONAL TRANSCRIPT DESCRIBES A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON ON THE SUBJECT OF ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING.

Abstract

THE CONFEREES CONSISTED OF A GROUP OF 20 TRIAL JUDGES FROM ACROSS THE U.S. AS WELL AS FROM GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND CANADA. THE PARTICIPATING JUDGES WERE PRACTITIONERS AND LEADING EXPERTS IN THE CORRECTIONS FIELD. ALSO PARTICIPATING WERE MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS, THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FACT THAT THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD TO PUT ASIDE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF PUNISHMENT IN FAVOR OF POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE ALTERNATIVE SENTENCES. THE SPONSOR, CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON, IS A NONPROFIT, TAX EXEMPT CORPORATION WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO THE TRADITIONAL FORM OF PUNISHMENT FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS. THE TESTIMONY COVERED SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION SUCH AS RESTITUTION WITH AND WITHOUT VICTIM INVOLVEMENT, COMMUNITY-SERVICE ORDERS, AND ORDERS TO DO WEEKEND WORK AT COURT, CHURCH, AND THE VICTIM'S RESIDENCE. WITNESSES RECOUNT BOTH SUCCESSFUL AND NONSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT REHABILITATING THROUGH THESE TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING, AND EMPHASIZE THAT THE SENTENCING JUDGE MUST TAKE RISKS AT TIMES IN USING DISCRETION. (MJW)