The impact of state sentencing policies on the U.S. prison population

Zhang, Yan; Maxwell, Christopher D.; Vaughn, Michael S.

doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2009.02.012

Cited by 28 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…In respects to the impacts of new commitments to prison, the findings of this study are in contrast to the findings of the other major study (Zhang et al, 2009) that looks at the impacts of sentencing reforms on commitments. It is important to highlight both the differences in model specification and data between the two studies as it may explain the divergent findings.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 96%

“…Harmon, 2013;Stemen et al, 2006), while others have shown no effect or a decrease (e.g. Marvell, 1995;Nicholson-Crotty, 2004;Zhang et al, 2009). Few studies specifically separated out the effects on time served versus commitments to prison.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, the results of the studies that assessed states-level changes in imprisonment over time (e.g., Harmon, 2013;Marvell, 1995;Nicholson-Crotty, 2004;Sorensen & Stemen, 2002;Spelman, 2009;Stemen et al, 2006;Zhang et al, 2009) have suggested that the elimination of discretionary parole release (e.g., determinate sentencing) and the adoption of truth in sentencing were more likely to be associated with changes in imprisonment, though some studies indicated these reforms increased imprisonment while others suggested they decreased it. For example, Stemen and Rengifo (2010) found that back-end sentencing reforms that constrain release decisions are more impactful than front-end reforms that constrain sentencing discretion.…”

Section: Wisconsinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Harmon, 2013;Stemen, Rengifo, & Wilson, 2006), while others have shown no relationship or even a reduction in imprisonment (e.g. D' Alessio & Stolzenberg, 1995;Marvell, 1995;Zhang, Maxwell, & Vaughn, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Opening the Door for More: Assessing the Impact of Sentencing Reforms on Commitments to Prison Over Time

Harmon

2015

Am J Crim Just

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Since the early 1970s, U.S. states have adopted a series of sentencing reforms that have substantially altered sentencing and release policies by limiting discretion of judges, parole boards, and/or prison administrators. The current study assesses shifts in year-to-year changes in new commitments and parolees returned to prison within all 50 states from the years 1972 to 2008. The study tests the theory that sentencing reforms resulted in increased commitments to prison due to changes in the structures of sentencing and not due to increased crime. Data was analyzed using panel regression with robust standard errors, fixed effects, and conditional change scores. By treating six main sentencing reforms as dynamically interacting, the results suggest that certain combinations of sentencing reforms significantly increase new commitments while the number of parolees returned to prison was not meaningfully affected. The analysis further indicates that the combinations that the reforms appear in at the statelevel influence the magnitude of the impacts of reforms.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Wisconsinmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Opening the Door for More: Assessing the Impact of Sentencing Reforms on Commitments to Prison Over Time

Harmon

2015

Am J Crim Just

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“…Although highlighting the need for measures over time, they lack broad cross-sectional applicability. Three studies to date (i.e., Spelman, 2009;Stemen et al, 2006;Zhang, Maxwell, & Vaughn, 2009) are notable exceptions and did attempt cross-sectional time-series 2 analysis of similar reforms on the aggregate state level across a fairly long time span. But although these studies do add to the literature on total imprisonment, they do not address change in the racial and ethnic composition of imprisonment.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Imprisonment Race: Unintended Consequences of “Fixed” Sentencing on People of Color Over Time

Harmon

2011

Journal of Ethnicity in Criminal Justice

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Sentencing Guidelines

Harmon¹

2013

The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice

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Over the past 25 years sentencing guidelines have represented an important and substantial change in the US criminal justice system. Guidelines were passed to reform (or change) sentencing structures. To date, 19 states and the federal government have adopted some form of sentencing guidelines. Under guidelines, an offender's sentence is largely determined by his or her prior record and offense severity. Guidelines have shifted the structure of sentencing from an indeterminate model—where judges rely on an offender‐centered approach that allows for relatively loose punishment ranges with prescribed maximums—to a determinate model. Sentencing guidelines, as a new model of punishment, move the system to a crime‐centered approach with a structure that mandates more narrowly tailored punishments. The end result provides a substantial reduction in the discretionary power of judges to impose disparate sentences, along with an increased certainty with regard to the type of sentence that may be given.

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The impact of state sentencing policies on the U.S. prison population

Cited by 28 publications

References 36 publications

Opening the Door for More: Assessing the Impact of Sentencing Reforms on Commitments to Prison Over Time

Opening the Door for More: Assessing the Impact of Sentencing Reforms on Commitments to Prison Over Time

The Imprisonment Race: Unintended Consequences of “Fixed” Sentencing on People of Color Over Time

Sentencing Guidelines

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