EXAMINATION OF THE FACTORS UTILIZED BY PAROLE BOARDS IN DETERMINING THE SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT

• NCJ Number: 25591
• Author(s): J E SCOTT
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 140 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DISSERTATION - INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

Annotation

THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL FACTORS, INSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT VARIABLES, AND SOCIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL FACTORS IN DETERMINING THE ACTUAL LENGTH OF TIME SERVED IN PRISON IS INVESTIGATED.

Abstract

THE DATA FOR THIS RESEARCH WERE GATHERED AT INDIANA'S THREE ADULT PENAL INSTITUTIONS FOR FELONY OFFENDERS. THE INDIANA WOMEN'S PRISON, THE INDIANA STATE PRISON, AND THE INDIANA REFORMATORY. THE PRINCIPLE SOURCES OF DATA UTILIZED IN THIS RESEARCH CONSISTED OF THE PRISON RECORDS COMPILED AND SUBMITTED TO THE PAROLE BOARDS AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS MADE BY THE RESEARCHER WHILE ATTENDING NUMEROUS PAROLE BOARD MEETINGS. THE SAMPLE OF INMATES PAROLED OR DISCHARGED FROM PRISON CONTAINS 359 CASES, OF WHICH 352 OR 98 PERCENT WERE PAROLED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME WAS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT VARIABLE AFFECTING THE PAROLE DECISION. CONGER ACTUAL SENTENCES WERE SERVED BY OLDER, LESS EDUCATED, LOWER INTELLIGENCE, UNMARRIED, NONRESIDENT, MALE, AND LOWER SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROUP INMATES. THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLINARY REPORTS WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOTED THAT GREATER PRIOR CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT LED TO LESS PUNISHMENT, AND THAT GREATER INSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT LED TO LONGER ACTUAL IMPRISONMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)