NCJ Number
55771
Date Published
1978
Length
135 pages
Annotation
THESE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS ON PENITENTIARIES AND CORRECTIONS COVER SUCH AREAS AS SENTENCING DISPARITY AND GUIDELINES, SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES, AND SENTENCING SEVERITY.
Abstract
WITNESSES INCLUDE THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, SEVERAL UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED. THE TESTIMONY COVERED ARGUMENTS FOR SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES AS A HUMANE REPLACEMENT FOR INCARCERATION, SENTENCES TAILORED PRECISELY TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME RATHER THAN ON SOME ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF REHABILITATION, AND VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN REHABILITATION FOR OFFENDERS WITH FIXED SENTENCES. THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, ON THE BASIS OF HER STUDIES, MAINTAINED THAT THE GENERAL RECIVIDISM RATE IS MUCH LESS THAN GENERALLY BELIEVED (ONLY AROUND 25 PERCENT AS OPPOSED TO THE USUALLY QUOTED 70 TO 80 PERCENT), A STATEMENT AIMED AT SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES. OTHER TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS SUGGESTED REDUCING INSTITUTIONAL QUALITIES OF COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT TO ALLOW MORE CONTACT WITH NORMAL COMMUNITY LIFE, ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR RELEASEES, AND SHORTENED PRISON TERMS ALONG WITH SENTENCING ALTERNATIVES.