NCJ Number
132543
Date Published
1990
Length
258 pages
Annotation
This research project examined the role of sentencing principles enunciated by England's Court of Appeal in the sentencing behavior of magistrates.
Abstract
The research attempted to identify channels of communicating information on sentencing principles to magistrates and to assess the possible impact of these channels on sentencing. Additionally, the research sought to determine if a relationship existed between magistrates' social background characteristics, their sentencing objectives, and their application of sentencing principles. Interview questionnaires were completed with clerks and magistrates, and the research sample included 165 magistrates. No significant relationship appeared to exist between magistrates' reading and their sentencing objectives. Further, there was no significant relationship between readership and social background characteristics such as social class and education. No significant relationship emerged between magistrates' views on the application of certain sentencing principles and their sentencing objectives. Generally, there was no consistent differences between magistrates' views on the application of certain sentencing principles and social background characteristics such as sex, social class, political party affiliation, and education. It is concluded that magistrates' penal philosophies and attitudes do not represent the major explanatory variables in sentencing decisions. Appendixes contain the research questionnaires and additional detail on models of sentencing behavior. References and tables