ASSYST -- The Design and Implementation of Computer-Assisted Sentencing

• NCJ Number: 133882
• Journal: Federal Probation Volume: 55 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1991) Pages: 46-55
• Author(s): E Simon; G Gaes; W Rhodes
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Applied Sentencing System (ASSYST) software helps Federal judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and probation officers computer sentences under the Sentencing Guidelines promulgated by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Abstract

In June 1968, the Commission provided every U.S. probation office with a copy of the ASSYST software, and updated versions are furnished periodically. In September 1989, the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys provided every U.S. attorney's office with the most recent version. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts provided the Federal defense bar with copies upon request. Reasons for the development of ASSYST concern the complexity of Sentencing Guidelines, the need to simplify probation officers' task of computing and modifying guideline worksheets, the need for data collection to monitor guideline use, and training for people learning the guidelines. Programming details of ASSYST are presented along with a discussion of the Sentencing Guidelines. 12 notes