Assessing Consistency and Fairness in Sentencing:

Project summary 2003-ij-cx-1015 This project will involve a partnership with three States in order to conduct a compartive study of sentencing systems as they relate to consistency and fairness both within the subject areas and compared to one another. The three States CA,MIN,MICH each have distinct structured sentencing guide lines With varying apprroaches to managing judicial discretion. Consistency and fairness to refder efforts directed toward reducing disparity and discrimination, making sentences proportionate with the seriousness of offense and increasing certainty and predictability. Deliberation over the efficacy of alternative sentencing structure will be enhanced through the comparative approach.