NCJ Number
58995
Date Published
1979
Length
228 pages
Annotation
ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS AND JUDICIAL STATISTICS OF CALIFORNIA COURTS ARE REPORTED FOR 1979, AND THE IMPACT ON THE COURTS OF THE 1976 DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAW IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE CALIFORNIA DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAW HAS RESULTED IN A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF CONVICTED FELONS RECEIVING PRISON SENTENCES, PARTICULARLY FOR NONVIOLENT AND LESS VIOLENT CRIMES. WHILE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO COMPARE SIMILAR CASES UNDER THE OLD AND NEW LAWS, IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE TIME SERVED IN PRISON UNDER DETERMINATE SENTENCES IMPOSED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW LAW WILL NOT BE GREATLY DIFFERENT FROM TIME TYPICALLY SERVED FOR THE SAME CRIME UNDER THE INDETERMINATE LAW. MORE TIME IS REQUIRED OF COURT STAFF TO FULFILL REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW SENTENCING LAW. THE SENTENCING PROCESS ITSELF REQUIRES MORE JUDICIAL TIME THAN PREVIOUSLY, ALTHOUGH THIS EFFECT CANNOT BE PRESENTLY QUANTIFIED. THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY THAT A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF CASES GO TO TRIAL UNDER THE NEW LAW. MUCH DATA STILL MUST BE COLLECTED BEFORE AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF INDETERMINATE SENTENCING CAN BE MADE. SUMMARIES OF OTHER SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS CARRIED ON BY THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON 1978 LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON THE COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND OTHER SELECTED LEGISLATIVE MEASURES, CHANGES IN THE CALIFORNIA RULES OF COURT DURING 1978, JUDICIAL REDISTRICTING, JUSTICE COURT ORAL EXAMINATIONS, JUDICIAL COUNCIL LEGAL FORMS, FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS, COORDINATION OF MULTICOURT CIVIL ACTIONS, ARBITRATION IN THE SUPERIOR COURT, AND CHANGE OF VENUE IN CRIMINAL CASES. JUDICIAL STATISTICS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1977-1978 ARE PROVIDED FOR THE SUPREME COURT, COURTS OF APPEAL, SUPERIOR COURTS, AND LOWER COURTS. INFORMATION ON JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSISTANCE IS ALSO PROVIDED.