| This paper presents statistics on the instruments of punishment (jails, prisons, sentences, probation, parolge) describing patterns in six New England states; nine Southern states; Texas; and six Rocky Mountain states. Results suggest that New England follows a policy of leniency toward minor and moderate offenders but severity toward chronic, dangerous offenders. The South and Texas follow a policy of severeity toward moderate offenders and chronic offerncers; and the Rocky Mountain states (except Utah and Colorado) follow a policy of leniency toward minor offenders but severity toward moderate and serious offenders. This research suggests several additonal lines of inquiry. |
Updated 05/20/2006