Presentence reports: The utility of information to the sentencing decision.

Rush, Christina L.; Robertson, Jeremy

doi:10.1007/bf01040447

Cited by 21 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…It assessed the utility of probation recommendations and the degree to which offender and officer characteristics affected recommendation decisions. This information is important, as strong correlations have previously been found between judges' sentencing decisions and probation recommendations and were confirmed in the present study as well (American Institute of Justice, 1981; as cited in Petersilia, 1997 andStinchcomb &Hippensteel, 2001;Carter & Wilkins, 1967;Norman & Wadman, 2000b;Rush & Robertson, 1987).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…These findings are not solely specific to the United States, as Rush and Robertson (1987) conducted research in New Zealand and found there was agreement between recommendations and final dispositions of judges in 77% of all cases. Looking at the overall importance of the PSI, in Kings County Supreme Court in New York, Enright (1987) found that PSI reports accounted for a significant proportion of observed variance between the sentence promised in a plea bargain and the sentence recommended, and that the probation officer's recommendation was the single most important predictor of the final sentence.…”

Section: The Influence Of Probation Recommendations On Sentencing Outmentioning

confidence: 50%

“…Also in some jurisdictions, probation officers make sentencing recommendations in Presentence Investigation (PSI) reports and these recommendations often correlate to the actual sentences offenders receive (Carter & Wilkins, 1967;Norman & Wadman, 2000b;Rush & Robertson, 1987;Stinchcomb & Hippensteel, 2001). The picture that emerges is one of a dynamic and complex process in which several actors offer information or opinions that can influence judges' sentencing decisions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Probation Recommendations and Sentences Received: The Association Between the Two and the Factors That Affect Recommendations

Leifker

Sample

2011

Criminal Justice Policy Review

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Although an association has been established between sentencing recommendations made by probation officers and the actual sentences received by offenders, to date, few scholars have examined the role of offender and officer characteristics in these recommendations. This article uses quantitative data from one small California jurisdiction between 2004 and 2006 to explore the role of legal and extralegal factors in sentencing recommendations. The minimal impact of extralegal factors is discussed and conclusions are made about why this may be the case. Ultimately, this research is intended to shed further light on the sentencing process and the previously documented sentencing disparities that exist.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: The Influence Of Probation Recommendations On Sentencing Outmentioning

confidence: 50%

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Probation Recommendations and Sentences Received: The Association Between the Two and the Factors That Affect Recommendations

Leifker

Sample

2011

Criminal Justice Policy Review

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“…In addition, the PSI contains a recommendation from the probation officer indicating the sentence that the officer believes is most appropriate for the defendant. Although prior research has found a high correlation between judges' sentencing decisions and the PSI recommendation (e.g., Rush and Robertson 1987, Norman and Wadman 2000, Stinchcomb and Hippensteel 2001, little research has been conducted to examine how probation officers' recommendations affect judges' sentencing patterns or on the factors that affect the actual recommendations.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Probation officers' recommendations and final sentencing outcomes

Freiburger

Hilinski

2011

Journal of Crime and Justice

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Using the focal concerns perspective, the current study examines the factors that affect probation officers' recommendations and the effect these recommendations have on final sentencing decisions. Results indicate that there is a high level of agreement between probation officers' recommendations and final sentencing decisions. When judges depart from recommendations, departures are most often upward, with judges sentencing defendants to a harsher penalty. Although it was predicted that the variables that construct the perceptual shorthand would have a greater influence on judges' decisions than on probation officers' recommendations, this was only partially supported by the findings. Final sentence outcomes appeared to be more directly influenced by race than the probation officers' recommendations. Instead of having a direct effect, race affected probation officers' recommendations through income and education. The implications of these findings are further discussed.

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“…Yet, Rush and Robertson (1987) discovered differences between perceived 'and actual importance among professional judges. Despite judges' low ratings of probation officers' recommendations, those recommendations closely agreed with the judge's final dispositions of offenders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Greedy, Needy, or Troubled? High School and University Students' Natural and Induced Views of Shopstealers

Lawrence¹,

Hore

1993

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology

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Adolescents and wUversily studentsprocessed comprehension packages designed to inducethem to adopt schemas for categorising shoplifters as either "greedy", "needy" or "troubled" persons. Adolescents'subsequentviews ofshoplifters, measured on a Shop Stealing Altitude Questionnaire (SSAQ) were related to schema conditions in expectedways, demonstrating the influence of the comprehension packages. Subjects who processed the package claiming that shopstealers are greedy displayed tougher attitudes to shopstealers, with highermean Greed and Condemn Scale scores. Subjects who processedpac/cQges claiming that shopstealers are eitherneedy or troubled displayed more lenientattitudeswith higher Need and Troubled Scale Scores. Younger adolescents showed harsher views, while older adolescents and all females were more understanding of offenders' circumstances and motives. Schema inducing comprehension packages, subjects'ages, and SSAQ measured views were weakly predictive of penalties assigned to offenders in sample cases. Findings supportgeneraltrendsofyoungeradolescents'punitiveness in relation to a specific offence, but indicatethe difficulties ofinexperienced penalisers in assigning penalties.

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Presentence reports: The utility of information to the sentencing decision.

Cited by 21 publications

References 11 publications

Probation Recommendations and Sentences Received: The Association Between the Two and the Factors That Affect Recommendations

Probation Recommendations and Sentences Received: The Association Between the Two and the Factors That Affect Recommendations

Probation officers' recommendations and final sentencing outcomes

Greedy, Needy, or Troubled? High School and University Students' Natural and Induced Views of Shopstealers

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