SENTENCING AND RELEASE PRACTICES FOR WOMEN COMMITTED TO SCI (STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION) MUNCY (PA), 1957-58 AND 1971-73

• NCJ Number: 31490
• Author(s): N F RENNER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 123 pages
• Sale Source: Pennsylvania Program for Women and Girl Offenders; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION ON 221 WOMEN RELEASED DURING 1957-58 AND 354 WOMEN RELEASED DURING 1971-73, UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE TRENDS IN SENTENCING AND OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS FOR PENNSYLVANIA WOMEN.

Abstract

THE PURPOSES OF THE STUDY WERE: 1) TO DOCUMENT FOR WHAT OFFENSES WOMEN FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE HAD BEEN SENTENCED TO MUNCY IN RECENT YEARS, COMPARED WITH AN EARLIER TIME PERIOD TOGETHER WITH THEIR PREVIOUS HISTORY OF CONTACTS WITH THE LAW; 2) TO DETERMINE WHAT SENTENCES WERE GIVEN TO WOMEN FOR THESE OFFENSES AND HOW MUCH TIME THEY ACTUALLY SERVED ON THEIR SENTENCES; 3) TO GATHER SOCIAL CENSUS INFORMATION ABOUT THESE WOMEN, AS RECORDED AND EVALUATED BY INSTITUTIONAL STAFF. FOR EACH GROUP OF RELEASEES, DATA IS PRESENTED ON THE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION, OFFENSE PATTERNS, CRIMINAL HISTORY, SENTENCING AND TIME SERVED ON SENTENCES, AND SOCIAL CENSUS CHARACTERISTICS. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT MORE WOMEN ARE CURRENTLY BEING SENTENCED TO SCI MUNCY THAN IN PAST DECADES. MOST OF THE INCREASED NUMBERS ARE YOUNGER WOMEN. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE PERCENTAGES OF WOMEN SENTENCED FOR NARCOTICS, FORGERY AND ROBBERY HAVE INCREASED; THOSE SENTENCED FOR THEFT AND BURGLARY HAVE DECREASED; AND THOSE SENTENCED FOR HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT HAVE REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME. OTHER FINDINGS ARE REPORTED AS WELL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)