NCJ Number
183179
Journal
Alternatives to Incarceration Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2000 Pages: 9-13
Editor(s)
Thomas S. Kapinos
Date Published
2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Trends in sentencing and corrections in the United States are reviewed, with emphasis on the decline of indeterminate sentencing, comprehensive structured systems, community and restorative justice approaches, and comprehensive risk-based approaches.
Abstract
Three conclusions can be drawn when sentencing and corrections policies in the 1990's are examined: (1) There is no longer anything that can be characterized as the American way to organize sentencing and corrections; (2) There is no standard approach to sentencing and corrections; and (3) New approaches are being tried, such as the incorporation of broad-based community participation in corrections. Although indeterminate sentencing has declined, it is still a reasonably accurate description of most State correctional systems. Comprehensive structured systems involve guidelines for felonies and misdemeanors and for sentences to confinement, intermediate punishments, and community penalties. Correctional programs based on community and restorative principles are beginning to deal with more serious crimes and criminals and to operate at every stage of the correctional system, including within prisons. Risk-based sentencing is based on the premise that public safety is the overriding goal and that individual risk management is the most promising strategy. Features of these conceptions of sentencing and corrections are described, with examples given. Similarities and differences between the concepts are identified; issues related to equal treatment, participation, transparency, and legitimacy are discussed. 1 table and 2 photographs