ADVISING SENTENCERS - A STUDY OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY PROBATION OFFICERS TO THE COURTS

• NCJ Number: 17015
• Author(s): P Ford
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 39 pages
• Corporate Author: Oxford University
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

STUDY WHICH EXAMINES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRACTICE OF SENTENCING RECOMMENDATIONS BY ANALYZING 450 'SOCIAL ENQUIRY REPORTS' (PRESENTENCE REPORTS) TAKEN FROM 1960, 1964, AND 1968 IN PROBATION OFFICES IN LONDON AND OXFORD.

Abstract

THE COURTS' DECISIONS IN THESE 450 CASES ARE ALSO DISCUSSED, AS IS THE CHANGING PHRASEOLOGY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IN ADDITION, THE VIEWS OF SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE OXFORDSHIRE PROBATION SERVICE (OBTAINED IN INTERVIEWS) ARE PRESENTED. THE MOST IMPORTANT FINDING OF THIS STUDY WAS THAT PROBATION OFFICERS HAVE ADOPTED A GENERAL FUNCTION OF ADVISING COURTS IN THE BUSINESS OF SENTENCING, PARTICULARLY IN THE JUVENILE AND HIGHER COURTS; IN FOUR OUT OF FIVE CASES THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ACCEPTED. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT PROBATION OFFICERS APPEAR TO HAVE CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE IN THE SENTENCING OF OFFENDERS SUBJECT TO REPORTS. (THIS REPORT ALSO CONTAINS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF LEGAL AND OFFICIAL VIEWPOINTS ON SENTENCING RECOMMENDATIONS, AND A SECTION ON THE RESEARCH METHODS USED IN THE STUDY.) A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED TO INTERVIEW PROBATION OFFICERS IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS ALSO PROVIDED.