Of Fragmentation and Ferment: State Sentencing and Correctio

Project Summary for 2002-IJ-CX-0027

This project will conduct a comprehensive survey and evaluation of state-level sentencing and correction reforms between 1975 and 2000. The objective is to build a conceptual framework for understanding the types and variability of state-level policies, to develop individual historical descriptions and analyses of each state's reforms, and to examine the ways various policies affect prison populations. To accomplish this, the researchers will use an iterative analysis of state sentencing and corrections laws, secondary sources, and interviews with relevant state officials most familiar with policies of their states. Data for examining prison population growth will be extracted from a database including demographic, crime, arrest, sentencing and corrections information collected by government agencies for each state from 1977-2000. Policy, demographic, economic, ideological, and crime variables will be used to predict trends in state incarceration rates, admission rates, and senternce lengths. A multiple time series design will be used, combining data from all 50 states over 25 years.

ca/ncf