NCJ Number
44983
Date Published
1977
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF THE OPINIONS OF STATE LEGISLATORS WITH REGARD TO ISSUES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
A QUESTIONNAIRE DISTRIBUTED AT FOUR REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCES ELICITED VIEWS ON ISSUES RELATED TO PROHIBITION AND PENALTIES, PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE, COURTS AND PROSECUTION, CORRECTIONS AND PAROLE, SECURITY AND PRIVACY, AND ORIENTATION AND PHILOSOPHY. OF 234 QUESTIONNAIRES RETURNED (APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL DISTRIBUTED), 87 PERCENT WERE COMPLETED BY LEGISLATORS, OF WHOM 63 PERCENT WERE SENATORS OR REPRESENTATIVES HOLDING POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP IN THEIR STATE LEGISLATURES. ALTHOUGH MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR A GIVEN POSITION WAS NOT EXPRESSED WITH REGARD TO APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE ISSUES CONSIDERED, THE RESPONSES DO SUGGEST GENERAL TRENDS. THE LEGISLATORS APPEAR TO BE GENERALLY RECEPTIVE TO REFORM, PARTICULARLY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: REVISION OF LAWS RELATING TO THE SALE AND POSSESSION OF DRUGS; CREATION OF PROCEDURES TO REDUCE SENTENCING DISPARITIES; CONTROL OF CHEAP HANDGUNS; ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED AND OTHER REHABILITATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFENDERS; REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS LIMITING THE LICENSING OF EX-OFFENDERS; AND CREATION OF SECURITY AND PRIVACY SAFEGUARDS FOR CRIMINAL OFFENDER RECORDS. EASTERN AND MIDWESTERN LEGISLATORS ARE MORE LIKELY TO ADVOCATE REFORM THAN ARE LEGISLATORS FROM THE SOUTH OR THE WEST. LEGISLATORS WHO ARE IN LOWER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, HAVE SERVED FEWER THAN 5 YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE, ARE FROM AN URBAN DISTRICT, OR ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT NEW PROGRAMS OR LAWS. LEGISLATORS ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL AND LEGAL OCCUPATIONS SHOW A GREATER PROPENSITY TOWARD A MORE LIBERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPROACH THAN DO INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN BUSINESS OR AGRICULTURE. SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED.