NCJ Number
41337
Date Published
1977
Length
78 pages
Annotation
THE FOCUS OF THIS PRESCRIPTIVE PACKAGE IS THE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION AND REPORT, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PRESENTENCE ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED.
Abstract
THE PACKAGE IS BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE STATE-OF-THE-ART SURVEY WHICH INCLUDED A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND A REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND PRESENTENCE FORMATS USED BY 735 STATE AND LOCAL PROBATION AGENCIES. AS A RESULT OF THEIR SURVEY, THE AUTHORS FOUND THAT DURING THE 100-YEAR HISTORY OF THE PRESENTENCE REPORT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASING EMPHASIS ON THE QUANTITY OF DATA COLLECTED AND PRESENTED TO THE COURTS. THE QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION IN TERMS OF ITS RELEVANCE TO THE SENTENCING DECISION HAS SELDOM BEEN QUESTIONED. OVER THE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUITY IN FORMAT AND DATA INDICATING THAT TRADITION IS AN UNCHALLENGED IDOL IN MOST JURISDICTIONS. THE PRINCIPLE PRODUCT OF THIS RESEARCH EFFORT IS A SERIES OF 64 RECOMMENDATIONS OR 'PRESCRIPTIONS' DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE COURTS AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATORS IN DEVELOPING A MORE SYSTEMATIC AND ANALYTICAL APPROACH TO PRESENTENCE REPORT DESIGN AND UTILIZATION. THE RECOMMENDATIONS ADDRESS SUCH ISSUES AS REPORT FORMAT AND CONTENT; CONDITIONS FOR PROBATION; DEVELOPMENT OF PROBATION SUPERVISION PLANS AS PART OF THE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION; RESOURCE ALLOCATION INCLUDING THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PRESENTENCE REPORT ACTIVITIES; SCHEDULING; USE OF NONPROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL; CASE RECORD MANAGEMENT INCLUDING THE ISSUE OF CONFIDENTIALITY; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)