Effectiveness of Sentencing Project

 

 

The Commission’s newest research project, which started in 2006,  is a multi-year, multi-phase study examining the effectiveness of sentencing, particularly with respect to recidivism. This research project is consistent with many of the enumerated duties contained in the Commission’s enabling legislation, including the ‘dissemination of information relating to incapacitation, recidivism, deterrence and the overall effectiveness of sentences imposed’.  The goal of the research project is to examine various types of sentences imposed to determine their effectiveness in lowering recidivism.   The project will also be examining whether there have been changes in the type and length of sentence imposed over the last 16 years.

The study involves two cohorts to examine both the release environment [offenders released during 2000] and the sentencing environment [offenders sentenced during 1990 and 1991].   Phase I of the project is focusing of sex offenders for several reasons including:  1) there has been new legislation passed for sex offenders due to the heightened concern over these types of  offenders; 2) the Commission has been involved  in the federally funded Sex Offender Management Team Project, which is working toward identifying and implementing components of a comprehensive and consistent sex offender management system in PA; and 3) to enable staff to work with a limited sample to ascertain better the type of information that is available from other agencies, as well as the Sentencing Commission’s new  SGS WEB database.