NCJ Number
44669
Editor(s)
A BLUMSTEIN,
J COHEN,
D NAGIN
Date Published
1977
Length
440 pages
Annotation
THIS VOLUME CONTAINS THE REPORT OF THE PANEL ON RESEARCH ON DETERRENT AND INCAPACITATIVE EFFECTS REGARDING POLICY OPTIONS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ALONG WITH PAPERS COMMISSIONED BY THE PANEL.
Abstract
THE PANEL WAS CONVENED AT THE END OF 1975 TO PROVIDE AN OBJECTIVE TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE STUDIES OF THE DETERRENT AND INCAPACITATIVE EFFECTS OF SANCTIONS ON CRIME RATES. FOR THE PANEL'S PURPOSES DETERRENCE IS LIMITED TO THE EFFECT OF A SANCTION IN INHIBITING THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF PEOPLE OTHER THAN THE SANCTIONED OFFENDER, WHILE INCAPACITATION REFERS TO THE EFFECT OF ISOLATING IDENTIFIED OFFENDERS FROM THE LARGER SOCIETY, THEREBY PREVENTING THEM FROM COMMITTING CRIMES IN THAT SOCIETY. FOLLOWING A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF DETERRENCE, THE REPORT EXAMINES THE MOST EXTENSIVE BODY OF LITERATURE, THAT WHICH USES NONEXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF NATURAL VARIATION IN SANCTIONING TO INFER DETERRENT EFFECTS FOR NONCAPITAL SANCTIONS. FIELD EXPERIMENTS AND OTHER QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES TO MEASURING DETERRENT EFFECTS FOR NONCAPITAL SANCTIONS ARE DISCUSSED AND THE EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE DETERRENT EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS ALSO ASSESSED. RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS INTENDED TO FILL EXISTING GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE OR METHODOLOGY ARE OFFERED FOR EACH PART. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ESTIMATION OF CRIMES AVERTED THROUGH INCAPACITATION CONCLUDES WITH A DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL RESEARCH DIRECTIONS. THE FINAL SECTION DEALS WITH ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGERIAL ISSUES RELATED TO CARRYING OUT THE RESEARCH RECOMMENDED IN THE REPORT. THE PAPERS COMMISSIONED BY THE PANEL TO PROVIDE BASIC MATERIALS FOR ITS WORK INCLUDE REVIEWS OF THE LITERATURE ON SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF DETERRENCE AND INCAPACITATION, REANALYSES OF DATA THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE DETERRENCE LITERATURE, AND EXPLORATIONS OF SOME POSSIBLE APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING THE ESTIMATES OF DETERRENT EFFECTS. EACH PAPER IS FOLLOWED BY REFERENCES. AN APPENDIX PROVIDES A LIST OF INVITEES TO THE CONFERENCE ON DETERRENT AND INCAPACITATIVE EFFECTS AND THE CONFERENCE AGENDA. (DAS)