Qualifiers and Disclaimers

 

 

Qualifiers & Disclaimers

Sentencing data available on this site provides aggregate statewide information on offender characteristics, types of sentences imposed, conformity to guideline recommendations, and the application of mandatory sentencing provisions. The information presented is based exclusively on the sentences reported to the Commission. As a result, the accuracy and completeness of the data is directly related to the quality of the information submitted to the Commission. More detailed information is available from the Commission under the Release of Information Policy. The most detailed and reliable information on any sentence imposed is the official criminal court record, available in county Clerk of Courts offices.The sentencing data reflects all Pennsylvania felony and misdemeanor offenses which were sentenced in the Common Pleas Courts during the calendar year listed and which were subsequently reported to the Commission. The following sentences are not generally reported to the Commission:

1. Philadelphia Municipal Court sentences, which include driving under the influence (DUI) as well as other misdemeanor offenses. Municipal Court-generated sentencing data will be provided, beginning with the 1999 data set.District Justice sentences, which include some DUI and Misdemeanor 3 offenses.
2. Murder 1 and Murder 2 sentences. Mandatory minimum death or life sentences apply to these offenses. Although the Commission encourages reporting, and many are reported, these offenses are not considered under the guidelines and no OGS has been assigned.

Although under development as part of broader automation efforts, the Commission did not have an audit system in place to determine the extent of non-reporting for data presented on this site. An internal study from the mid-1990's failed to find systematic state-wide non-reporting, but did find instances of inder-reporting for mandatory sentences, particularly DUI, and by some counties. During 1999, the Commission for the first time provided detailed, offense-specific verification reports to all criminal court judges on the sentences reported. Each judge was given an opportunity to review problem forms and to verify his/her sentencing data and was encouraged to provide the Commission with any corrections. This verification process, coordinated by the Field Services Unit, was developed as part of a comprehensive policy that permits the release of 1998 judge-specifc sentencing information. A similar process has been completed for the 1999 sentencing data and will also be used for 2000 data.

In order to present the information reported to the Commission in a manageable format, a number of steps have been taken. First, offenses analyzed in these tables and charts represent only the most serious offense of a criminal incident. Second, sentences analyzed represent only the most severe sentencing alternative imposed for that offense. Third, unless otherwise noted, sentences under all versions of the guidelines are combined. Fourth, the Commission has created offense-type categories that represent a grouping of similar offenses. And fifth, due to rounding, some cases may exist even if 0% is indicated.