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NCJRS Abstract

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NCJ Number:	188350

Title:	Presentence Investigation Reports: A Relevant Justice Model Tool or a Medical Model Relic?

Journal:	Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume:12 Issue:2 Dated:June 2001 Pages:164-177

Author(s):	Jeanne B. Stinchcomb; Daryl Hippensteel

Date Published:	June 2001

Page Count:	14

Publisher:	http://www.sagepub.com

Type:	Issue Overview

Format:	Article

Language:	English

Country:	United States of America

Annotation:	This article explores changes in the basic functions of presentence investigation reports.

Abstract:	As the clinically driven paradigm associated with the earlier era of criminal justice policymaking known as the medical model has been replaced by the legislatively defined prescriptions of the justice model, accompanying changes have occurred throughout the system. Once the backbone of a microoriented emphasis on the individual offender's potential for change, presentence investigation (PSI) reports' nature, role, and impact have been transformed as the system shifted to policy-based sentencing practices that place higher value on personal accountability and procedural uniformity. The article explores social forces that have shaped these alterations over time, along with how they progressively affected and altered the basic functions of PSI's. The article discusses practical staff-related consequences of these developments, along with implications for future PSI utility and alternative research methodologies. It claims that the issue will continue to be whether PSI's should focus on long-term treatment goals related to analyzing offenders' rehabilitative prospects or on short-term public protection by outlining risk perils. References

Main Term(s):	Criminology

Index Term(s):	Cultural influences; Judicial process; Presentence investigations; Presentence studies; Rehabilitation; Research methods; Sentencing trends; Sentencing/Sanctions; Social change



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