NCJ Number
86111
Date Published
1981
Length
49 pages
Annotation
This paper outlines the research upon which Iowa's risk assessment and decision guideline systems are based and discusses associated implications for sentencing and parole policy.
Abstract
Various risk factors and predictive combinations of such factors were identified from an analysis of computerized records of 6,337 adult offenders released from probation and parole caseloads in Iowa from 1974 to 1976. The sentencing and parole guideline systems were structured along both 'descriptive' and 'prescriptive' lines, i.e., according to observed past decision patterns and to certain key improvements recommended by the research. The basic structure of both systems is in the classification of offenders according to the following four separate ratings: (1) offense severity (code category/sentence and offense type), (2) prior felony record (adult felony convictions), (3) general risk rating, and (4) violence risk rating. The offense severity rating is according to the Iowa criminal code classification of offenses and according to the nature of the crime itself (against persons/violent or not against persons/nonviolent). The prior adult felony record rating considers both the number of previous adult prison commitments and whether or not the offender has previously been convicted as an adult of a prison-eligible crime. The risk-rating categories are super recidivist, ultra-high risk, very-high risk, high risk, high-medium risk, low-medium risk, low-risk, and very-low risk. Uniform prison sentences are called for in the case of super recidivists, and a high frequency of imprisonment is called for in ultra-high risk offenders. After 2 months of testing of both systems, the impression is that the guidelines will be favorably received as tools for improving the quality of sentencing and parole decisions. The appendix contains data elements and coding procedures for the offender risk assessment.