NCJ Number
54173
Date Published
1975
Length
53 pages
Annotation
SENTENCING, CORRECTIONS, FLAT TERM SENTENCING, AND COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ARE ADDRESSED IN THIS OVERVIEW OF COLORADO'S FIRST CONFERENCE ON SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
IN DECEMBER 1975, 250 COLORADO CITIZENS--JUDGES, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CORRECTION SPECIALISTS, EX-OFFENDERS, AND COMMUNITY PEOPLE--MET TO DISCUSS THE ROLES AND RIGHTS OF THE SENTENCING PROCESS. THE PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE WAS TO PINPOINT CURRENT PROBLEMS AND AREAS OF CONFLICT, TO IMPROVE SYSTEM COMMUNICATIONS, AND TO BEGIN DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE SENTENCING POLICIES FOR COLORADO. THE STEPS MADE TO PLAN THE CONFERENCE ARE DETAILED, ALONG WITH THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONS IN COLORADO, AND PANEL CONCLUSIONS. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED BY THE THREE SPEAKERS INCLUDE: MAJOR PROBLEMS IN SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONS, ILLINOIS'S FLAT TERM SENTENCING STRUCTURE, AND MINNESOTA'S EXPERIENCE WITH COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS. THE CONFERENCE RECOMMENDED THE EXPANDED USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT. FUNDING WAS SEEN AS THE MAJOR OBSTACLE TO A MORE RIGOROUS USE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE STATE BE THE MAJOR SOURCE FUNDING COLORADO'S DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO EXAMINE, EVALUATE, AND PRESCRIBE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR OFFENDERS. A REEVALUATION OF THIS DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM IS RECOMMENDED BY THE CONFERENCE. IN THE AREA OF SENTENCING, THE MAJORITY OF GROUPS ADVOCATED THE RETENTION OF INDETERMINATE SENTENCING AS IT NOW EXISTS UNDER COLORADO LAW. THE CONFERENCE HAS ALREADY HAD SOME EFFECT ON COLORADO'S SENTENCING SYSTEM, WITH JUDGES REPORTEDLY SHOWING A WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE DIAGNOSTIC REPORTS ON ALL OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO INCARCERATION. A LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IS PROVIDED.