NCJ Number
131134
Date Published
1988
Length
221 pages
Annotation
This report presents information and statistics on felony dispositions in California for the four calendar quarters ending March 31, 1987; June 30, 1987; September 30, 1987; and December 31, 1987.
Abstract
One table compares the rates of prison commitments for 1987 with the corresponding rates for 1984-86 and the first four years of operation of the determinate sentencing law. Most of the major crimes show significantly increased use of prison compared to 1977-80 but similar rates compared to 1985 and 1986. Some of the increases are caused in part by mandatory sentencing laws. The most striking change over the past two years is the sharp increase in total felony convictions (up 21,500 or 28 percent from 1985 to 1987); this is largely due to the increase in total felony drug law convictions. Statistics on the length of determinate prison sentences are presented in another table. These are summarized over time for selected crimes. There has been little variation in the average sentences for most of the common crimes from quarter to quarter. The two exceptions are voluntary manslaughter and forcible rape. Two tables show the relationship between method of conviction (trial or plea) and disposition (prison or probation) or length of sentence. 16 tables