GEOGRAPHY OF JUSTICE - SENTENCING VARIATIONS IN US JUDICIAL DISTRICTS

• NCJ Number: 13489
• Journal: Judicature Volume: 57 Issue: 9 Dated: (APRIL 1974) Pages: 392-401
• Author(s): K D HARRIES; R P LURA
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: American Judicature Soc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

EXAMINATION OF THE CHARGE THAT SOME ASPECTS OF SENTENCING IN FEDERAL COURTS VARY SIGNIFICANTLY IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS USE FOUR MEASUREMENTS - AVERAGE SENTENCE WEIGHT, RELATIVE SENTENCE WEIGHT, PERCENTAGE PLACED ON PROBATION, AND RELATIVE USE OF PROBATION. ('RELATIVE' MEASURES INDICATE VARIATION FROM A NATIONAL NORM). USING DATA PUBLISHED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES COURTS ON THE TREATMENT OF FEDERAL OFFENDERS IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS, THE AUTHORS COMPILED AND COMPARED THESE FOUR INDEXES FOR EACH FEDERAL JUDICIAL DISTRICT. THE INDEXES WERE DIVIDED INTO 4 GROUPS, FROM TREATMENT LEAST FAVORABLE TO THE DEFENDANT TO TREATMENT MOST FAVORABLE TO THE DEFENDANT. MAPS OF THE UNITED STATES WERE PREPARED TO EXHIBIT THE AREAS CORRESPONDING TO THESE FOUR CLASSES. FROM THESE MAPS, IT IS APPARENT THAT REGIONAL VARIATIONS DO EXIST IN SENTENCING AND PROBATION. BOTH LEGALLY RELEVANT VARIABLES (CHARACTERISTICS OF DEFENDANTS, DISTRIBUTION OF OFFENSES, REPORTS OF AUXILIARY AGENCIES) AND LEGALLY IRRELEVANT VARIABLES (CHARACTERISTICS OF JUDGES, COURT PROCEDURAL FACTORS) WERE CONSIDERED TO EXPLAIN THE RESULTS OF THE STATISTICAL STUDY.