NCJ Number
93995
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 48 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1984) Pages: 10-18
Date Published
1984
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The sentencing model presented replaces the decision to sentence an offender either to imprisonment or an alternative out-of-prison status with assignment to 1 of 10 'accountability levels.'
Abstract
The 'accountability levels' provide a broad range of increasingly restrictive options, with logical progression down the scale toward freedom over time and retrogression further up the scale for noncompliance. Adequate monitoring occurs at all levels. The private sector can be used to help fill the gaps in the middle levels, and policy is structured to offer decisionmakers the desired mix of offender slots in a jurisdiction. The model is based on four principles: (1) the certainty of punishment is more important than the severity of a sanction; (2) the victim should be a primary consideration in determining a sentence; (3) a wide range of sanctions should be available, with the offender sentenced to the least restrictive and least costly sanction consistent with public safety; and (4) rehabilitation should be considered in assigning sanctions. A table of the accountability levels is provided, along with 15 footnotes.