The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines: Implications for Criminal Justice

(Hardback)

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A distinguished group of noted criminal justice specialists here examines the impact of the new U.S. sentencing guidelines, imposed in 1987, on law enforcement, the prosecution and courts, and corrections. Although these guidelines were created with the expressed purpose of increasing judicial fairness and reducing prison overcrowding, the contributors argue that their long range effects will be to aggravate present overcrowding problems to intolerably high levels. To make their case, contributors address individually such issues as plea bargaining, the new role of parole and corrections officers, the likely effects of the scheduled abolition of the parole board in 1992, and more. Both students of criminal justice and practicing parole and corrections officers will find these chapters enlightening reading. Following an introductory overview that puts the U.S. sentencing guidelines in perspective, two chapters discuss their impact on law enforcement, officer discretion, and crime control and deterrence. Turning to an exploration of the courts, the contributors address prosecutorial discretion in plea bargaining, judicial discretion and sentencing disparities, case processing and sentencing alternatives, and how predictions of dangerousness affect the sentencing process. In their analysis of the relationship between the sentencing guidelines and corrections trends, the contributors examine issues such as community-based corrections and privatization, inmate litigation and constitutional issues, and recidivism. Finally, editor Dean Champion offers a perceptive synthesis of the volume by summarizing the serious problems posed by imposition of the U.S. sentencing guidelines. Four appendices provide additional related information for the student and researcher.

Reviews

Evaluates the impact of the new U.S. sentencing guidelines on law enforcement, prosecution, the courts and corrections. Contributors are a group of criminal justice specialists representing a diversity of opinions on the guidelines and their effectiveness for promoting more equitable punishments for those convicted of Federal crimes. Contributors discuss the guidelines' effect on law enforcement, officer discretion, and crime control and deterrence. The guidelines' impact on the courts includes prosecutorial discretion in plea bargaining, judicial discretion and sentencing disparity, and case processing and sentencing alternatives. In their analysis of the relationship between the sentencing guidelines and corrections trends, the contributors examine community-based corrections and privatization, inmate litigation, constitutional issues, recidivism, and how predictions of dangerous behavior affect the sentencing process.-National Institute of Justice
On November 1, 1987, all federal trial judges became bound in their sentencing practices by official guidelines established by Congress. The purpose of these guidelines was to reduce sentencing disparities that might have stemmed from extralegal factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, etc. This collection of essays--both theoretical and empirical--evaluates the impact of these sentencing guidelines. The book seeks to determine both short-range and long-range implications of these guidelines for three key components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, prosecution and the courts, and corrections. The contributing authors, all experts in their respective fields, present a diverse cross-section of views, some seeing the guidelines as a plus and others taking a very negative view. . . . Upper-division undergraduates and above.-Choice
"On November 1, 1987, all federal trial judges became bound in their sentencing practices by official guidelines established by Congress. The purpose of these guidelines was to reduce sentencing disparities that might have stemmed from extralegal factors such as gender, race, ethnicity, etc. This collection of essays--both theoretical and empirical--evaluates the impact of these sentencing guidelines. The book seeks to determine both short-range and long-range implications of these guidelines for three key components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, prosecution and the courts, and corrections. The contributing authors, all experts in their respective fields, present a diverse cross-section of views, some seeing the guidelines as a plus and others taking a very negative view. . . . Upper-division undergraduates and above."-Choice
"Evaluates the impact of the new U.S. sentencing guidelines on law enforcement, prosecution, the courts and corrections. Contributors are a group of criminal justice specialists representing a diversity of opinions on the guidelines and their effectiveness for promoting more equitable punishments for those convicted of Federal crimes. Contributors discuss the guidelines' effect on law enforcement, officer discretion, and crime control and deterrence. The guidelines' impact on the courts includes prosecutorial discretion in plea bargaining, judicial discretion and sentencing disparity, and case processing and sentencing alternatives. In their analysis of the relationship between the sentencing guidelines and corrections trends, the contributors examine community-based corrections and privatization, inmate litigation, constitutional issues, recidivism, and how predictions of dangerous behavior affect the sentencing process."-National Institute of Justice

Author Bio

DEAN J. CHAMPION is Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Minot State University and the author of five previous books including Felony Probation (Praeger, 1988).