NCJ Number
69914
Date Published
1980
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes discussions and reports from a sentencing guidelines workshop that was attended by representatives from various parts of the United States.
Abstract
Each of the sentencing projects represented at the workshop is described in terms of its mandate, current stage of activity, source and level of funding, and topics of specific interest for discussion. States indicated in these descriptions were Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Federal Sentencing Project is also described, and other attendees introduced. Alternative models and methodologies for preparing sentencing guidelines are discussed with consideration of the development of predictive studies and parole guidelines, preferred approaches, relevant research issues (e.g., measurement of legitimate versus illegitimate disparity), and communicating with the advisory boards. Suggestions are offered for facilitating the movement from data findings to sentencing guidelines. Attention is then turned to public relations aspects of developing sentencing guidelines, methodologies for monitoring guidelines, and impact analysis and projection. A session on special issues bearing on sentencing guidelines revolves around the role of mitigating and aggravating factors used in calculating a sentence. Appendixes list names and addresses of attendees and the agenda for the workshop.