NCJ Number
155531
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This report analyzes the number and type of cases sentenced under the Federal guideline system in Texas between 1989 and 1993.
Abstract
In 1993, there were 118,919 State convictions and 53,607 State cases sentenced to prison, compared to 4,149 and 3,525, respectively, for the Federal judicial system in Texas. Federal cases represented 3.4 percent of all State and Federal cases convicted and 6.2 percent of all State and Federal cases sentenced to prison in Texas. The average Federal prison sentence was 65 months, compared to 117 months for State offenders. The analysis found that the number of offenders sentenced to prison in Texas by the Federal Government has not been a significant factor in reducing the State's index crime rate. The index crime rate in Texas has decreased every year between 1989 and 1993, with an overall reduction of 19 percent during the 5-year period. Further, the number of offenders sentenced to prison by the Federal Government represents too small a proportion of the total number of offenders sentenced to prison in Texas for Federal sentences to have a significant impact on the State crime rate. An overview of the Federal sentencing system is presented. Supplemental data on Federal and State cases sentenced under Federal sentencing guidelines by offense type and on sentence length are appended. 12 tables and 9 figures