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Pre-Sentence Report: Monitoring the Pilot Trials

NCJ Number
140620
Journal
Research Bulletin Issue: 32 Dated: (1992) Pages: 13-16
Author(s)
C May; M Hough
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The monitoring of the pilot trials in five Crown Court centers, to prepare for the introduction of presentence reports, identified significant organizational implications for this report requirement of the British Criminal Justice Act of 1991.
Abstract
The monitoring assessed the extent to which the pilot program succeeded in mimicking the relevant provisions of the 1991 act. The volume of extra reports entailed by the provisions, the speed with which the reports were produced and their effects on adjournments, and the implications for other agencies such as the Prison Service were also reviewed. The monitoring found that the preparation of presentence reports required extra work for the probation service; the preparation of presentence reports resulted also in more adjournments of cases heard in the Crown Court, although it was possible to contain both the number and the duration of these adjournments. There was also a small increase in the size of the prison population due to longer periods of detention for those awaiting trial. For many defendants, however, the extra time in detention was deducted from any prison sentences if they be convicted. Additional monitoring was required to obtain more information on the impact of presentence reports. For example, information was needed on the volume of extra reports, consequent changes in the rate of adjournment, the time taken to complete reports, and any differential treatment by ethnic group or gender. Plans were underway to obtain the foregoing information. 1 reference

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