INDETERMINATE SENTENCE IN AMERICA - AN EMPIRICAL TEST (FROM SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ON CORRECTIONS, ANNUAL, 19TH, 1974 BY VERNON FOX AND RICK KASTEN - SEE NCJ-30746)

• NCJ Number: 30748
• Author(s): H E ALLEN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Florida State University; Wichita State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF ONE OF THE ASSUMPTIONS INHERENT IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF INDETERMINATE SENTENCING: THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS ARE ABLE TO PREDICT OUTCOMES OF OFFENDERS FOLLOWING RELEASE.

Abstract

DATA ON APPROXIMATELY 450 BOYS GIVEN INDETERMINATE SENTENCES TO AN UNNAMED MIDWESTERN MAXIMUM SECURITY JUVENILE INSTITUTION CONTRADICTED THIS ASSUMPTION. STAFF MEMBERS, INDENTIFIED BY THE INMATES AS KNOWING THEM BEST, WERE ASKED TO PREDICT HOW SUCCESSFUL THE INMATES WOULD BE AT ADJUSTING TO LIFE WITHIN THE LAW AFTER RELEASE. COMPARISON OF STAFF PREDICTIONS WITH FOLLOW-UP DATA INDICATED THAT IN ONLY 16 PERCENT OF THE CASES WERE STAFF PREDICTIONS ACCURATE. INMATES WHO WERE PREDICTED TO BE LIKELY TO ADJUST WELL WERE ALMOST AS LIKELY TO BE REINCARCERATED (40 PERCENT) AS THOSE EXPECTED TO DO POORLY (41 PERCENT). THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THIS AND OTHER ASSUMPTIONS BEHIND INDETERMINATE SENTENCING BE REEXAMINED.