NCJ Number
12739
Date Published
1974
Length
24 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON THE INCIDENCE, DEFINITIONS, LAWS, PENALTIES, AND POST CONVICTION LEGAL PROCEDURES REGARDING FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Abstract
THE REPORT GIVES A BRIEF HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE LAWS AND PENALTIES AND DEFINES PLEA BARGAINING, APPEAL, RESPITE, COMMUTATION, AND PAROLE. A 99.5 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE IS REPORTED FOR A FURLOUGH PROGRAM IN WHICH INMATES CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER ARE TEMPORARILY RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP MAINTAIN TIES WITH FAMILY AND SOCIETY AND TO MINIMIZE THE ISOLATION OF PRISON LIFE. OTHER STATISTICS INCLUDE INCIDENCE, INDICTMENT AND CONVICTION, DISPOSITION OF INDICTMENTS, DISPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONVICTED PERSONS, AND COMPARISON OF STATE AND NATIONAL TRENDS OF INCIDENCE OF MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER. ALSO INCLUDED IS AN HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN MASSACHUSETTS. A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IN THE APPENDIX INDICATES THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS LAW GIVING THE JURY DISCRETION IN FIRST DEGREE MURDER CASES DID NOT RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN FIRST DEGREE MURDER CONVICTIONS.