NCJ Number
164936
Date Published
1995
Length
49 pages
Annotation
A 1995 seminar sponsored by the Council of Governors' Policy Advisors focused on emerging themes in criminal justice, including the impacts of corrections policies on prison populations, the interaction of crime control and sentencing policies, public attitudes, and the cost impacts of criminal justice policies.
Abstract
The discussions concluded that governors should follow nine principles when trying to improve their States' criminal justice system. First, honesty in all aspects of this issue is the best way to proceed. Second, it is crucial that each State have accurate data on who is in prison, how long they will be there, and why they are there. Third, the likelihood of committing crime varies greatly with age; the inclination to commit most types of crime drops dramatically after age 30. Fourth, increasing incarceration does reduce crime rates, but not very much. Fifth, it is important for both criminals and the public to sense a close correlation between the sentence given and the amount of prison time served. Sixth, the use of prison space for drug offenders not convicted of violent offenses does little to reduce crime or discourage similar crimes. Seventh, governors should speak early and often about crime and criminal justice before having to talk about a particular incident. Eighth, the issue needs to be handled comprehensively. Finally, certain factors increase the likelihood of future criminality: poverty, parental criminal involvement, being a child abuse victim, low educational achievement, single-parent family, and drug abuse. Table, appended figures and tables, and presenter biographies