NCJ Number
127956
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 237-253
Date Published
1990
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The article presents the results of an impact analysis of Kentucky's Persistent Felony Offender (PFO) Act of 1974. The analysis concentrated on two questions: does the PFO law concentrate upon dangerous/violent offenders, and is the PFO law being used in a fair manner?
Abstract
The objective of Kentucky's 1974 Act was to punish offenders, not for a particular act, but for repeated criminal activity, for making crime a "career." Under this statute, persons convicted of a felony more than once can receive enhanced sentences as persistent felony offenders. A chart is provided to show the classifications of persistent felony offenders and related sentences with parole eligibility. Data on all incarcerated PFO's and on a 10-percent random sample of other incarcerated felons were collected. The random sample was broken into two groups: one of first offenders and one of repeat offenders not sentenced as PFO's. The overall data reflected the fact that the PFO enhancement of sentences is not uniformly applied to all eligible offenders; this allows unfair application of 1974 Act. 2 tables, 11 endnotes, and 36 references (Author abstract modified)