U.S. Sentencing Guidelines: A Summary of Selected Problems and Prospects (From U.S. Sentencing Guidelines: Implications for Criminal Justice, P 231-239, 1989, Dean J. Champion, ed. -- See NCJ-121135)

• NCJ Number: 121148
• Author(s): D J Champion
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The new Federal sentencing guidelines are inadequate to deter crime, incapacitate the offender, provide just punishment, and rehabilitate offenders.

Abstract

There is no reason to expect that sentencing guidelines are more effective than the discretionary power of judges under indeterminate sentencing. Although the guidelines are certain to increase the rate and length of incarceration, the knowledge of the certainty of incarceration is not likely to restrain those intent on committing crimes. The guidelines will make greater use of incapacitation of offenders through imprisonment, but this will create prison overcrowding. The guidelines' attempt to provide "just" punishment according to offense severity is compromised in a number of areas. One area is the disproportionate and unequal dollar-amount increments applied to property crimes. The guidelines make no attempt to incorporate rehabilitation into sentencing dispositions. 1 note.