The book surveys various sentencing practices and reviews the sentencing reform movement. A chapter on sentencing determinants focuses on disparity and discrimination as well as methodological problems that plague this research. Despite measurement errors in most studies, offense seriousness and offender's past record have emerged as key determinants. Areas covered by a discussion of sentencing innovations adopted since 1960 include efforts to standardize felony classifications, requirements for judges to provide reasons for sentencing, sentencing councils, abolishing plea negotiation, mandatory minimum sentences, determinate sentences, and sentencing guidelines. The report summarizes evaluations of sentencing reforms' effectiveness in reducing disparities, altering sentence severity, and making decisionmaking systematic. Specific evaluations include mandatory minimum sentencing laws in Michigan, Massachusetts, and New York; California's Uniform Determinate Sentencing Law; presumptive and voluntary sentencing guidelines; and parole guidelines in four jurisdictions. Finally, the report explores the implications of sentencing reforms for the size, conditions, and management of prison populations, as well as problems in projecting and controlling the size of those populations. The last section outlines an agenda for future research. Footnotes, approximately 480 references, and information on panel participants are provided.