Crime Control Effects of Sentencing in Essex County, New Jersey, 1976-1997
Description
This study was undertaken to examine the ways in which
different felony sanctions impact the future behavior of felony
offenders. The study sought to determine whether the following made a
difference in subsequent criminal behavior: (1) sentences of
confinement, (2) the length of sentence (both the sentence imposed and
that which was actually served), and (3) sentences of probation
combined with jail ("split" sentences), or combined with fines,
restitution, or other alternative sanctions. Data were collected from
questionnaires completed by 18 judges of the Essex County, New Jersey,
courts and by probation staff. Follow-up data were collected from
official records provided by probation, jail, prison, and parole case
files. Follow-up data were also collected from the following official
records: (1) the New Jersey Offender-Based Transaction System
Computerized Criminal History, (2) the New Jersey Department of
Corrections Offender-Based Correctional Information System, (3) the
United States Department of Justice Interstate Identification Index,
(4) the National Crime Information Center Wanted Persons File, (5) the
New Jersey PROMIS/GAVEL Prosecutors Case Tracking System, and (6)
administrative record files of the New Jersey Department of
Corrections. Variables in the data file include the most serious
offense charge, most serious offense of conviction, dimension of
conviction, offense type (person, property, social order, fraud, or
drug offense), number of prior probations, number of probation
revocations, number of prior jail and prison terms, mitigating and
aggravating factors affecting the sentence, type of sentence, special
conditions of probation, fines and restitutions imposed, minimum and
maximum incarceration terms (in months), history of drug offenses,
type of drugs used, probation and parole violations, total number of
prior arrests and prior convictions, and longest arrest-free period
after first arrest. The type of post-sentence offense, dimension,
disposition charge, sentence, and date of arrest are provided for
arresting events and charge episodes 1 through 108 for any
offender. For up to 43 arrest events (for any offender), the date of
lockup and date of exit from confinement are provided. The file also
includes recommendations made by prosecutors and probation officers,
and judges' ratings (on a scale of one to nine) with respect to the
likelihood of an offender committing future property crimes, crimes
against persons, or any crime. Judges also rated the arrest record
length, conviction record length, and social stability of each
offender. Retribution points, incapacitation points, and specific
deterrence points assigned by the judges complete the
file. Demographic variables include the race and sex of each convicted
offender, and the age of the offender at first conviction.
Resources
| Name |
Format |
Description |
Link |
|
0 |
ICPSR02857.v1 |
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR02857.v1 |
Tags
- convictions-law
- crime-control
- probation
- crime-prevention
- fines
- drug-law-offenses
- recidivism
- sentencing
- jails
- arrest-records
- felons
- imprisonment