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New study indicates success of state guideline systems

By Douglas A. Berman

This AP story reports on a new study providing empirical praise for states moving to guideline sentencing systems (even voluntary ones).  Here are snippets from the AP report:State sentencing guidelines virtually erase discrimination in criminal punishments, regardless of how much judges are allowed to deviate from recommended prison terms, according to a study released Thursday.  The National Center for State Courts examined significantly different guidelines in three states: Virginia, where the guidelines are voluntary; Michigan, which offers some judicial discretion and Minnesota, which has the most mandatory system of the three.  The study concluded that the guidelines in each of those states result in consistent sentences that generally are not influenced by race and economic status...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on May 22, 2008 (boomark / email).