NCJ Number
109825
Date Published
1987
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This report to the U.S. Congress from the U.S. Comptroller General examines the potential impact of the new Federal sentencing guidelines on the Federal criminal justice system and considers the Sentencing Commission's basis for requesting a 9-month delay in implementing the guidelines.
Abstract
The study interviewed officials from the judiciary, Department of Justice, and other groups concerned with the Federal criminal justice system, and it reviewed the commission's analyses of increases in future prison populations and how much the guidelines will contribute to those increases. Although the commission believes the population of Federal prisons will increase significantly over the next 10 to 15 years, it does not believe the sentencing guidelines will contribute significantly to this growth. The commission's prison population analyses are reasonable, but how much future Federal prison populations will actually increase and how much the guidelines will contribute to this increase cannot be determined. Those interviewed generally believe the guidelines will produce increased workloads in virtually all components of the criminal justice system. The commission requested that implementation of the guidelines be delayed to allow time for field testing and training personnel. The commission is proceeding as if the guidelines will be implemented as scheduled on November 1, 1987. Although there are pros and cons on the delay, there are no clear answers on whether or not to delay implementation. The appendix details the study's results, objectives, scope, and methodology.