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1 Jodi M. Brown, et al., Felony Sentences in State Courts, 1996 1 (1999)

handle is hein.agopinions/felssc0001 and id is 1 raw text is: of Justice
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May 1999, NCJ 173939
Felony Sentences
in State ourts, 1996
CutBy Jodi M. Brown-
Patrick A. Langan, Ph.D.
and David J. Levin
BJd DaistJ.Levn        * State courts convicted 997,970  - The average sentence length to
BJS Statisticians        adults of a felony in 1996. That total  State prison has decreased since
1996 State courts convicted almost  represents an average growth of  1988, but felons sentenced in 1996
8,000 adults of a felony. Thirty-eight  approximately 5% every year since  were likely to serve more of that
percent of convicted felons were   1988 (667,366).                 sentence before release.
sentenced to a State prison, and 31e% Drug offenders were 35% of felons  - Trial convictions accounted for 9%
were sentenced to a local jail (usually  convicted in State courts in 1996.  of felony convictions in 1996. Guilty
for a year or less). The remaining 31%  Property offenders made up 30%;  pleas accounted for the remaining
with ntcjail tprison time to serve.  violent offenders, 17%; those  91%. Since 1988 guilty pleas have
These findings come from a survey  convicted of weapons offenses and  remained at about 90% of felony
that is done every 2 years and that  other nonviolent crimes made up the  convictions.
provides the only detailed description  rest (18%).
of the sentences felons receive in State                           * Nationally, of the felons convicted in
courts nationwide.                 * State courts sentenced 38% of  1996, 54% were white, 44% were
convicted felons to a State prison,  black, and 2% were other races. The
National Judicial Reporting Program  31% to a local jail, and 31% to straight average age of felons convicted in
probation with no jail or prison time to  State courts in 1996 was 31.
The National Judicial Reporting    serve.
Program (NJRP) compiles detailed                                   ' Females account for an increasing
information on the sentences and   e The 38% of convicted felons given a portion of felons convicted in State
characteristics o  convicted felons.  prison sentence in 1996 was the  courts. In 1988, females were 13% of
Previous surveys of felony sentencing  lowest percentage in all the years that convicted felons; in 1996, 16%.
in State courts were conducted in  the survey has been conducted.
1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994.'                                 e In 1996 the average time from arrest
* The average sentence to local jail to sentencing was just over 7 months
was 6 months. The average proba-  (219 days). Possibly because of
See Felony Sentences in State Courts, 1986, tion sentence was almost 3% years. increased workload (977,970 cases
19C 115210, February 1989; Felony Sentences Afiewsm
State Courts, 1988, NCJ 126923, December  A fine was imposed on 20% of  in 1996 versus 667,366 in 1988),
90; Felony Sentences in State Courts, 1990, convicted felons, restitution on 14%, courts took an average of 11 days
Sta 140o1u86, March 1993; Felo Sentences in  community service on 6%, and treat- longer to process cases in 1996 than
and Felony Sentences in State Courts, 1994,  ment was ordered for 6%.  in 1988.
NCJ 163391, January 1997.

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