NCJ Number
45569
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 28-38
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPT, APPLICATION, AND BENEFITS OF THE PART-TIME JAIL TERM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PROBATION OR STRAIGHT SENTENCING ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE USE OF WEEKEND JAIL SENTENCES, IN WHICH OFFENDERS HOLD FULL-TIME JOBS DURING THE WEEK AND SPEND THEIR WEEKENDS IN JAIL, IS INCREASING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AT LEAST PART OF THE INCREASE IS DUE TO THE GROWING CRIME RATE AND THE BURDEN IT PLACES ON THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM. THE REASON CITED BY MOST JUDGES WHO FAVOR THIS TYPE OF APPROACH IS THAT IT ALLOWS THE OFFENDER TO KEEP HIS JOB AND SUPPORT HIS FAMILY. IF HE WERE SENT TO PRISON, THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR HIM IN JAIL AND WOULD ALSO HAVE TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY ON WELFARE. SENTENCES GIVEN RANGE FROM ONE OR TWO WEEKENDS TO AS MUCH AS 2 YEARS OF CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS. THOSE RECEIVING THIS TYPE OF SENTENCE ARE USUALLY CONVICTED OF ALCOHOL AND MOTOR VEHICLE-RELATED MISDEMEANORS. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM CENTER ON LOGISTICS, I.E., SCHEDULING, STAFF, AND SPACE. ACCORDING TO THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE SYSTEMS WHO HAVE INITIATED THE PROGRAM, THERE ARE FEW OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO WEEKENDS WHO FAIL TO APPEAR; MANY TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES AND ARRIVE EARLY. THE OPINION OF MANY OF THE WEEKENDERS IS THAT THIS TYPE OF SENTENCE IS IN MANY WAYS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN A FULL-TIME PRISON TERM. ENTERING THE JAIL EACH WEEK HAS A GREATER IMPACT ON MANY THAN JUST STAYING THERE, AND OFTEN THE WEEKNIGHTS SPENT WITH THEIR FAMILIES MAKE THE WEEKENDS AWAY FROM THEM EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. VERMONT HAS AN EXTENSIVE WEEKEND-SENTENCING PROGRAM AND HAS DONE A GREAT DEAL OF RESEARCH IN THE AREA. OF THE STATE'S WEEKEND PRISON POPULATION, HALF WERE CONVICTED OF MOTOR-VEHICLE INFRACTIONS, ONE-FOURTH OF PUBLIC ORDER MISDEMEANORS, AND 21 PERCENT OF PROPERTY CRIMES; 90 PERCENT SERVE FEWER THAN 20 WEEKENDS; AND 17 PERCENT WERE FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS. THE AIM OF THE WEEKEND SENTENCE IS NOT REHABILITATION, BUT PUNISHMENT. MANY WEEKENDERS ACTUALLY REQUEST AFTER THE FIRST WEEKENDS THAT THEY BE ALLOWED TO COMPLETE THEIR SENTENCE BY DOING STRAIGHT TIME. THEY FIND THAT IT DISRUPTS THEIR LIFE-STYLE NOT ONCE, BUT MANY TIMES OVER. THEIR REQUEST ARE GENERALLY REFUSED. IN COOK COUNTY (CHICAGO), ILLINOIS, THE OVERCROWDING IN PRISONS MAKES WEEKEND SENTENCING MUCH LESS PRACTICAL OR DESIRABLE. HOLDING SPACE OPEN FOR OFFENDERS, PROCESSING THE PAPERWORK ON ANY WHO DON'T SHOW, AND DETERMINING WHETHER THE OFFENDER MERITS THE WEEKEND SENTENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THE GENERAL REACTION OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS TO THE PROGRAM IS FAVORABLE, ALTHOUGH NO DETAILED STUDIES HAVE YET BEEN PERFORMED ON ITS IMPACT. (VDA)