NCJ Number
53233
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1978) Pages: 45-47
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY REVIEWS THE USE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN THE UNITED STATES; GIVES DATA ON NUMBER OF INMATES SERVING LIFE SENTENCES, NUMBER WHO DIE IN PRISON, AND TIME SERVED BEFORE RELEASE; AND DISCUSSES USE OF PAROLE.
Abstract
THE STATISTICS, WHICH WERE GATHERED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES AND VARY IN COMPLETENESS BY CATEGORY, ARE COMPARED WITH DATA FROM ENGLAND AND BELGIUM. THEY SHOW THAT PERSONS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT CONSTITUTE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE PRISON POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT THERE IS WIDE VARIATION BY STATE IN NUMBER OF YEARS SERVED. FEW LIFERS ACTUALLY DIE IN PRISON. THE DATA INDICATE THAT LIFERS CONSTITUTE MORE THAN 9 PERCENT OF THE PRISON POPULATION, COMPARED WITH 2.9 PERCENT IN ENGLAND AND 3.3 PERCENT IN BELGIUM. THERE ARE FEW UNIFORM GUIDELINES FOR PAROLE, UNLIKE BOTH ENGLAND AND BELGIUM. THE PROBLEMS SURROUNDING THE USE OF PAROLE FOR VIOLENT OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A METHOD OF PAROLE USED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD MIGHT BE USEFUL IN THE UNITED STATES: THE VICTIM (OR A FAMILY MEMBER IN EVENT OF THE VICTIM'S DEATH), THE PROSECUTOR, AND THE INVESTIGATING POLICE OFFICER ALL HAVE INPUT INTO THE DECISION TO ALLOW OR NOT ALLOW PAROLE. THE DESIRE OF THE VICTIM AND SOCIETY TO BE PROTECTED FROM VIOLENT OFFENDERS IS DISCUSSED. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL DATA. (GLR)