Assessing Consistency and Fairness in Sentencing: A Comparative Study in Three States
Publication year:
2008
| Cataloged on:
Jun. 13, 2008
ANNOTATION: The substantially differing sentencing guidelines systems in Minnesota, Michigan, and Virginia are examined. The systems range from strict observance (MN), to some judicial discretion (MI), to voluntary compliance (VA). Sections of this report in addition to an executive summary are: what the focus of this investigation entails; how the state guideline systems compare; why these states were chosen; what are the critical elements of these three states' sentencing guideline systems; why predictability, proportionately, and non-discrimination are important when assessing methodology; results for predictability, proportionality, and discrimination; and conclusions that can be drawn from this study. "There is no evidence of a direct trade-off between predictability and proportionality on one hand and undesirable racial, gender, or age disparities on the other" (p. 17).
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