RT Article
T1 Predicting the estimated use of alternatives to incarceration
JF Journal of quantitative criminology
VO 13
IS 2
SP 121
OP 142
A1 Wooldredge, John
A1 Gordon, Jill 1962-
A2 Gordon, Jill 1962-
LA English
YR 1997
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1764276531
AB A greater use of sentencing alternatives to incarceration may help to reduce problems related to prison crowding and high costs of incarceration. However, a judge's ability to use these alternatives more frequently may be hindered by state sentencing policies designed to reduce judicial sentencing discretion. A study of a national random sample of 181 chief trial court judges revealed that state sentencing policies, court size, and the degree of plea bargaining in a judge's court docket are significant predictors of a judge's estimated use of alternatives to incarceration. Also, these variables are significant predictors of a judge's willingness to use alternatives for specific groups of felons constituting significant proportions of state prison populations. Consistent with the latter finding, a descriptive analysis further revealed that judges who perceive less use of alternatives for felony offenders reside predominantly in states with more crowded prisons.
K1 chief trial court judges
K1 sentencing alternatives
DO 10.1007/BF02221305