NCJ Number
43395
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 41 Issue: 1 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 40-42
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE PROCESS SOUTH CAROLINA USED TO DEAL WITH CONFLICTING DEMANDS FROM JUDGES, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND OTHERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION OF A STANDARDIZED PRESENTENCE REPORT FORM IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
STANDARDIZATION OF PRESENTENCE REPORTING GIVES GREATER ASSURANCE THAT ALL FACTORS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN AIDING THE COURT TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE SENTENCES. SUCH FORMS ALSO AID THE PROBATION AGENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN EVALUATING APPROPRIATE REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS AND IN DETERMINING RELEASE DATES. WITH SUCH REPORTS NOW MORE LIKELY TO BECOME AVAILABLE TO PRISONERS AND COUNSEL, THE UNIFORM QUALITY OF A STANDARDIZED FORM IS DESIRABLE. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE PROCESS OF SURVEYING ALL USERS OF THE FORM, RESEARCHING THE LITERATURE, AND DEVELOPING AND TESTING SAMPLE FORMS WHICH SOUTH CAROLINA USED TO DEVELOP STANDARDIZED FORM. AFTER INITIAL TESTING, ALL STATE PROBATION OFFICERS WERE GIVEN TRAINING IN USE OF THE FORM. FOLLOWING THE WORKSHOPS, THE FORMS BECAME MANDATORY ON ALL SENTENCES OF 1 YEAR OR MORE. A SUPERVISORY POSITION AT THE STATE LEVEL WAS CREATED TO MONITOR THESE FORMS. AFTER ABOUT 1 YEAR, AN EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO ALL JUDGES USING THE REPORTS. OF THE 70 PERCENT WHO RETURNED THE QUESTIONNAIRE, MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS RATED THE FORM AS USEFUL, ANOTHER QUARTER RATED IT AS SOMEWHAT USEFUL, 11 PERCENT DID NOT ANSWER, AND NONE CALLED IT UNHELPFUL. THE QUESTIONNAIRE ALSO OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. THESE SUGGESTIONS FOUND THE BASIC DESIGN SOUND. WORK IS NOW BEING DONE TO INCORPORATE THE SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS INTO THE FORM DESIGN.