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1990 Felony Sentences U.S. 1 (1990)

handle is hein.death/felsus1990 and id is 1 raw text is: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Felonry Sentences in the U States, (it' By Patrick A. Langan, Ph.D. Craig A. Perkins BJS Statisticians Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D. Abt Associates Inc. The latest available figures covering both State and Federal sentencing reveal that In 1990 the Nation's courts convicted about 150,000 adults of a violent felony. An estimated 148,000 of the 150,000 convictions occurred in State courts. The approximately 2,000 violent felony convictions accounted for by Federal courts made up about 1% of the total. Data sources State sentencing data are from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Judicial Reporting Program, a biennial sample survey that collects detailed information on the sentences adult felons receive in State courts nationwide. Federal sentencing data are from the BJS Federal Justice Statistics Program. That program collects annual comprehensive Infor- mation about the processing of indivi- duals and corporations by the Federal criminal justice system. Sentencing data obtained by the program cover II Federal district courts. Sentencing statistics given In this report pertain exclusively to offenses * I* a State and Federal courts together sentenced to prison 60% of the 150,000 felons convicted of a violent crime in 1990. * In 1990 Federal courts convicted 36,684 persons of violent, property, drug, and other felonies. State courts convicted 829,344, bringing the combined U.S. total to 866,028 felons convicted. Federal courts accounted for 4% of the national total. * Between 1986 and 1990 the number of felony convictions increased 42% in State courts and 16% in Federal courts. e Over the period 1986-90 the number of convictions for drug trafficking more than doubled. The rate of increase was greater In State courts (120%) than In Federal courts (41%). defined under State or Federal law as felonies. States vary In their definition of a felony, but in general, a felony is a crime that has the potential of being Dunished bv more than I vear In a e In 1990 State and Federal courts together Imposed a prison sentence on 46% of all persons convicted of a felony. Federal courts sentenced to prison 54% of felons; and State courts, 46%. * In 1990 the average prison sen- tence imposed by State and Federal courts combined was 6 years and 3 months. The average for Federal courts was 6 years and 7 months and for State courts 6 years and 3 months. * Before release from prison, felons serve a minimum 85% of their sen- tence if convicted in a Federal court and, based on recent practice, an average of 38% of their sentence if convicted in a State court. If these percentages are applied to 1990 sen- tences, felons sent to prison would serve an estimated average of about 51/2 years if convicted In a Federal court and 21/2 years If convicted in a State court. State prison. Federal law also defines a felony as a crime that Is punishable by Imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year. a

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