International Trends in the Treatment of Offenders (From Current International Trends in Corrections, P 1-11, 1988, David Biles, ed. -- See NCJ-119079)

• NCJ Number: 119080
• Author(s): N Morris
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Federation Press (Distributed by Gaunt)
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This paper discusses international trends in the sentencing of offenders, with particular attention to imprisonment and community-based corrections.

Abstract

Sentencing guidelines are the trend as a viable approach to reduction in sentencing disparity and to the achievement of greater consistency and fairness in sentencing. A trend in the use of fines and day fines as well as community service and restitution provides means of imposing appropriate punishments on those who present no physical danger to the community and therefore need not be imprisoned. Intensive supervision, house arrest, electronic monitoring, and treatment conditions can be designed and enforced to control those who need control or treatment in the community but who are not so dangerous as to require continuous secure confinement. These trends in the sentencing and management of convicted offenders provide the building blocks for a comprehensive, principled, and even-handed system of punishment that does less harm and achieves greater decency and justice than current practice, without compromising the prevention and control of crime.