NCJ Number
58858
Date Published
1978
Length
51 pages
Annotation
PERTINENT TO CORRECTIONAL PLANNING INFORMATION REGARDING CORRECTIONS AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, CORRECTIONS IN UTAH ARE COMPARED WITH NATIONAL DATA, AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
INFORMATION, PRIMARILY IN GRAPHS AND STATISTICS, IS PRESENTED FOR PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, AND BUDGETING PURPOSES. THE UTAH STATE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS IS THE FINAL AGENCY IN THE SYSTEM TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE OFFENDER. ALTHOUGH RELIABLE DATA ARE NOT AVAILABLE, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONLY 1.5 PERCENT OF THE SERIOUS CRIMES COMMITTED RESULT IN THE OFFENDER GOING TO PRISON; 3 TO 6 PERCENT OF THE SERIOUS CRIME COMMITTED RESULTS IN PROBATION. THEREFORE, THE IMPACT ON CRIME STATISTICS BY THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS WILL BE LIMITED. SOUND DECISION MAKING IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY LACK OF ACCURATE AVAILABLE DATA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH UTAH'S PRISON POPULATION IS THE 8TH SMALLEST IN THE NATION, 27 STATES REPORT LOWER CRIME RATES. IN ADDITION, UTAH'S 32 PERCENT PRISON ADMISSIONS WHO ARE PAROLE VIOLATORS IS MORE THAN TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. COMPARISON OF NATIONAL INCARCERATION COSTS SHOWED UTAH'S TO BE 10TH HIGHEST OF THE 47 STATES REPORTING. IN ADDITION TO THESE AREAS OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN, THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS SHOULD CONSIDER THE PROBLEMS OF SPECIAL OFFENDERS, (I.E.,WOMEN, ETHNIC MINORITIES, AND SEX OFFENDERS). IT MUST ALSO DETERMINE TO WHAT EXTENT UNIFICATION OF THE JUVENILE AND ADULT CORRECTIONS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED. FINALLY, THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP JAIL STANDARDS MUST BE RESOLVED. REFERENCES, TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA, AND GRAPHS ARE INCLUDED; THERE ARE NO TABLE OF CONTENTS OR INDEX. (LWM)