NCJ Number
61773
Date Published
1979
Length
23 pages
Annotation
IN ORDER TO STUDY THE NEED FOR POSSIBLE LAW REFORMS RELATING TO THE USE OF IMPRISONMENT, THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS, ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT, AND PRINCIPLES OF PUNISHMENT, THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION OF AUSTRALIA USED A NATIONAL OFFENDER SURVEY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM OFFENDERS.
Abstract
INFORMATION WAS NEEDED TO HELP THE COMMISSION IN PREPARING ITS REPORT ON SENTENCING, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED NO LATER THAN 1979. PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY WAS ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY. THE QUESTIONNAIRE CONSISTS OF THREE SECTIONS. THE FIRST SECTION, ON GENERAL TOPICS, ALLOWS THE RESPONDENTS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN THEIR OWN WORDS, AS WELL AS MARKING APPROPRIATE BOXES. QUESTIONS CONCERN THE FAIRNESS OF THE SENTENCE, THE ARREST PROCESS, AND THE ACTIONS OF THE JUDICIAL PERSONNEL INVOLVED (JUDGE, MAGISTRATE, AND PROSECUTOR). OTHER QUESTIONS FOCUS ON THE COURTROOM PROCEDURE, THE BAIL SYSTEM, AND THE PAROLE SYSTEM. THE SECOND SECTION CENTERS ON OFFENDER ATTITUDES TO SENTENCING AND CONSISTS OF 91 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS. THE NEXT SECTION CONTAINS QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE OFFENDER'S BACKGROUND AND PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE FINAL SECTION IS DESIGNED ONLY FOR FEDERAL AND AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY OFFENDERS. FOR RELATED DOCUMENT, SEE NCJ 61774.