By 

Allen J. Beck, Ph.D. 

Lawrence A. Greenfeld

BJS Statisticians

In partnership with State departments

of corrections, the Bureau of Justice

Statistics (BJS) collected information

on sentences and time served by violent offenders in State prison. For

1992, 1993, and 1994, 49 States and

the District of Columbia provided information on violent offenders who were

admitted to or released from prison. 

In April 1995, BJS published Prison

Sentences and Time Served for 

Violence, which discussed truth in sentencing and the hypothetical impact of

increasing the percentage of sentence

served. Data sources in this report differ from those in the previous report:

 State-by-State tabulations appear 

for the first time in this report

 BJS received totals and averages, 

not individual records, from States

 State definitions of violent offenders,

rather than standard BJS definitions,

were used in this report.

Correctional authorities provided the

number of violent offenders admitted

or released, the average total maximum sentence, the average minimum

time to be served by incoming prisoners, and the average time served in

prison and jail by released prisoners.

(See the questionnaire on page 9.) 

This information allows the calculation

of percent of sentence served or to be

served  measures of the correspondence between sentence length

and time served. (See Methodology.) 

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Selected Findings

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

State Inmates, 1992-94

Violent Offenders in State Prison:

Sentences and Time Served 

From a previous BJS report 

Prison Sentences and Time Served for Violence

Since the mid-1970's, legislatures around the Nation have

sought to reduce discretion in both the sentencing process and the determination of when the conditions of a

sentence have been satisfied. Determinate sentencing,

use of mandatory minimums, and guidelines-based sentencing are illustrations of approaches that limit discretion

and increase the predictability of penalties.

A majority of State prisoners today serve presumptive

sentences  90% of State inmates can estimate their

probable release date, and their discharge from prison is

less likely than in the past to be determined by a parole

board decision. In 1977, 72% of those released from

State prisons had served an indeterminate sentence, and

a parole board decided their release. In 1992, by contrast, less than 40% of prison releases were determined

by a parole board. 

Interest in truth-in-sentencing reflects continued attention 

to discretion and to the relation between sentences and

time served. Truth-in-sentencing is generally meant 

to describe a close correspondence between the sentence imposed upon those sent to prison and the time 

actually served prior to prison release. 

  

The report was based on BJS definitions of violent offenders and individual-level records or interviews. Data drawn

from the annual National Corrections Reporting Program

revealed that released violent offenders had served about

half their sentence in confinement and admitted violent offenders were expected to serve about 60% of their sentence before release. Data from a national survey of

State inmates indicated that violent prisoners believed

that they would serve nearly 50% of their sentence.

July 1995, NCJ-154632

SEE CORRECTION NOTICE ON PAGE 10
Though nearly all States (and the District of Columbia) participated in this

special data collection, for many jurisdictions the requisite information was

unavailable. Just over half the participating jurisdictions provided sufficient

data in each year to calculate the percentage of sentence to be served by

violent offenders entering prison.

Nearly 8 in 10 participating jurisdictions

reported data on average sentence

length and time served for violent offenders released from prison. In these

jurisdictions the percentage of sentence served could be calculated. 

 Number of jurisdictions 

With sufficient data

to calculate percent

Total of sentence served 

partici- Admis- ReYear pating sions leases

1992 46 27 39

1993 48 27 40

1994 49 28 40

Percent of sentence to be served, 

as estimated from prison

admissions

Data collected from the States for 

1992 to 1994 total over a quarter million violent offenders admitted to

prison from sentencing courts (table

1).1

 The number of violent offenders

admitted in 1994 ranged from more

than 10,300 in California to less than

100 in Wyoming and Vermont. 

The States with the largest prison

populations in 1994  California,

Texas, New York, Florida, and Ohio 

all reported average sentences for violent offenders entering prison (table 2).

But only New York and Ohio could provide sufficient data to estimate an expected length of stay prior to release.

Furthermore, half of the 10 largest

State prison systems did not provide

information needed to calculate the

percent of sentence to be served.2

Based on admissions data for 1992 

to 1994, violent State prisoners had 

an average sentence of about 10

years and were expected to serve

slightly less than 5 years on average.

Overall, the percentage of sentence to

be served rose from 44% to 48% between 1992 and 1994. In each year

the percentage varied substantially

across the States.

Percent of sentence served, 

as estimated from prison releases

A total of 40 jurisdictions reported in all

3 years both the average sentence and

the time served for released violent 

offenders (table 3). Most States also

included in the average time served

any credit for time spent in a local jail

before trial or after conviction.

Among released prisoners the average

sentence for a violent crime was about

8 years, and the average time served

was about 31⁄2 years, or just under

half of their total maximum sentence. 

The percent of sentence served by 

released violent offenders varied

widely among reporting jurisdictions

and within some jurisdictions over the

3-year period. These variations may 

reflect a differing mix of the type of violent offenders being released, unique

jurisdictional sentencing practices, and

evolving release policies. Without an

accounting of these factors, State-toState comparisons are likely to be

misleading.

2 Violent Offenders in State Prison

1

Violent crimes are those offenses under State

law that involve force or the threat of force. 

See Methodology.

2

The 10 largest prison systems in 1994, accounting for about 60% of State prisoners, were California, Texas, New York, Florida, Ohio, Michigan,

Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Prisoners expect to serve about half their sentence

A 1991 BJS survey of inmates in State prisons indicated that prisoners 

also believe that they are likely to serve just under half of the sentence 

they received. For each of the violent offenses, prisoners reported 

Type of Average Expected Percent 

offense sentence time to serve of sentence

All violent 216 months 100 months 46%

Murder 381 178 47

Manslaughter 185 81 44

Sexual assault 211 95 45

Robbery 200 82 41

Assault 158 68 43

7 in 10 prisoners with a life 

sentence expect to be released

For calculation of average sentence

length and percent of sentence

served, prisoners sentenced to life

in prison or to death were excluded.

Such offenders account for about

6% of violent offenders admitted to

State prisons each year. In 1992 

an estimated 5,700 violent offenders

were admitted with a life or death

sentence. 

In the 1991 survey, about 1 in 6

State prisoners serving time for a

violent offense had received a sentence to life in prison or to death.

About 74% of them had been convicted of homicide; 9% convicted 

of rape or sexual assault; 9%, of

robbery; 4%, kidnaping; and 4%,

assault. 

Among prisoners with a life 

sentence  

 69% reported that they 

expected to be released

18% reported that they did not

know if or when they would be

released

13% reported that they would

never be released.

Based on this survey information, 

an estimated 2% to 5% of violent offenders would never be released

from prison and contribute to the

calculation of time served. 
 Sentences and Time Served 3

Table 1. New court commitments and first releases of violent State offenders, 1992-94

Number of violent new court 

commitments to State prison

Percent

change,

Number of violent first releases from State prisonPercent

change,

Region and jurisdiction 1992 1993 1994 1992-94a 1992 1993 1994 1992-94a 

All participating States 84,598 84,559 81,535 -4.9% 60,753 61,347 61,282 -6.9%

Northeast 14,822 15,999 15,420 -6.5% 11,281 11,843 11,583 -12.3%

Connecticut 1,090 993 965 -11.5 707 376 343 -51.5

Maine 282 252 197 -30.1 251 241 188 -25.1

Massachusetts -- 1,267 1,268 -- -- 1,617 1,684 --

New Hampshire 203 244 253 24.6 130 188 138 6.2

New Jersey 2,401 2,287 2,406 .2 2,566 2,138 2,380 -7.2

New York 8,650 8,654 7,715 -10.8 6,174 5,833 5,533 -10.4

Pennsylvania 2,112 1,999 2,250 6.5 1,384 1,359 1,247 -9.9

Rhode Island -- 232 300 -- -- -- -- --

Vermont 84 71 66 -21.4 69 91 70 1.4

Midwest 17,916 18,986 19,087 -1.3% 7,570 10,598 12,522 6.6%

Illinois 5,494 5,429 5,581 1.6 4,224 4,448 4,674 10.7

Indiana -- 974 1,008 -- -- -- -- --

Iowa 495 495 532 7.5 512 522 558 9.0

Kansasb -- -- 395 -- -- -- 38 --

Michigan 3,481 3,306 3,241 -6.9 -- -- 1,828 --

Minnesota 355 358 356 .3 181 186 177 -2.2

Missouri 1,964 2,047 2,116 7.7 1,136 1,269 1,167 2.7

Nebraska 370 309 377 1.9 335 375 337 .6

North Dakota 61 81 112 83.6 64 65 66 3.1

Ohio 4,155 4,320 3,879 -6.6 -- 2,508 2,585 --

South Dakota 244 231 236 -3.3 174 180 160 -8.0

Wisconsin 1,297 1,436 1,254 -3.3 944 1,045 932 -1.3

South 34,739 31,747 30,036 -8.4% 28,774 25,148 23,047 -15.5%

Alabamac 2,340 2,329 2,058 -12.1 -- -- -- --

Arkansas 1,014 873 1,031 1.7 765 817 978 27.8

Delaware 380 402 351 -7.6 430 378 388 -9.8

District of Columbia 540 427 354 -34.4 390 468 344 -11.8

Florida 8,781 7,701 6,931 -21.1 7,144 6,343 6,486 -9.2

Georgia 2,695 2,748 2,621 -2.7 2,397 2,248 1,420 -40.8

Kentucky 857 843 945 10.3 658 771 780 18.5

Louisiana 1,225 1,235 1,248 1.9 1,363 1,333 1,190 -12.7

Maryland 2,220 2,218 2,233 .6 2,393 2,451 2,421 1.2

Mississippi 1,103 1,037 1,112 .8 996 807 746 -25.1

North Carolina 2,455 2,568 2,521 2.7 2,366 2,871 1,882 -20.5

Oklahoma 1,577 1,610 1,634 3.6 727 830 867 19.3

South Carolina 1,407 1,418 1,450 3.1 1,239 1,217 1,205 -2.7

Tennessee 1,204 1,068 905 -24.8 1,421 1,267 992 -30.2

Texas 4,798 5,078 4,440 -7.5 4,851 3,204 3,201 -34.0

Virginia 1,956 -- -- -- 1,495 -- -- --

West Virginia 187 192 202 8.0 139 143 147 5.8

West 17,121 17,827 16,992 -.8% 13,128 13,758 14,130 7.6%

Alaska 456 417 464 1.8 222 229 228 2.7

Arizona 1,417 1,597 1,383 -2.4 926 1,012 917 -1.0

California 10,683 11,182 10,308 -3.5 8,958 9,238 9,939 11.0

Colorado 835 870 1,052 26.0 549 611 600 9.3

Hawaii 180 219 251 39.4 135 186 170 25.9

Idaho 189 174 115 -39.2 97 104 75 -22.7

Montana 239 250 256 7.1 192 188 189 -1.6

Nevada -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

New Mexico 497 541 666 34.0 -- -- -- --

Oregon 719 691 682 -5.1 644 708 608 -5.6

Utah 224 240 209 -6.7 171 180 172 .6

Washington 1,555 1,562 1,507 -3.1 1,171 1,246 1,219 4.1

Wyoming 127 84 99 -22.0 63 56 13 -79.4

Note: See Methodology for definitions of new court commitments and first releases.

--Not reported.

a

State and regional totals based on States reporting data 

in 1992 and 1994.

b

Includes only admissions and releases governed solely by determinate sentences under

the Sentencing Guidelines Act.

c

Includes data on all admissions and releases.
4 Violent Offenders in State Prison

Table 2. New court commitments of violent State prisoners: Sentence length, minimum time to

be served, and percent of sentence to be served before release, 1992-94

Mean total maximum 

sentence lengtha

Mean minimum time to 

be served before release

Percent of maximum sentence

to be served before releaseb

Region and jurisdiction 1992 1993 1994 1992 1993 1994 1992 1993 1994

All participating States 123 mo 121 mo 126 mo 54 mo 57 mo 59 mo 44% 47% 48%

Northeast 110 mo 112 mo 116 mo 55 mo 61 mo 61 mo 49% 53% 53%

Connecticut 69 70 70 -- -- -- -- -- --

Maine 210 189 147 161 144 112 77 76 76

Massachusetts -- 115 110 -- 85 78 -- 74 71

New Hampshire 100 116 117 44 54 52 44 47 44

New Jersey 128 134 134 44 46 45 34 34 34

New Yorkc 98 101 103 54 59 60 55 58 58

Pennsylvania 149 146 167 61 60 71 41 41 43

Rhode Island -- 63 56 -- -- -- -- -- --

Vermont 133 146 118 -- -- -- -- -- --

Midwest 151 mo 154 mo 149 mo 52 mo 53 mo 55 mo 36% 36% 37%

Illinois 107 115 112 48 53 51 45 46 46

Indiana -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Iowa 141 130 134 -- -- -- -- -- --

Kansasd -- -- 53 -- -- 42 -- -- 80

Michigan 204 199 203 77 74 76 38 37 37

Minnesota 111 113 125 80 82 88 72 72 70

Missouri 116 122 127 -- -- -- -- -- --

Nebraska 136 144 141 60 60 70 44 42 50

North Dakota 75 71 62 39 40 40 52 56 65

Ohio 201 208 198 42 43 42 21 21 21

South Dakota -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Wisconsin 117 111 116 30 26 26 26 23 22

South 138 mo 134 mo 141 mo 56 mo 67 mo 68 mo 39% 51% 51%

Alabama 170 186 153 -- -- -- -- -- --

Arkansas 189 176 182 -- -- -- -- -- --

Delaware 72 60 74 64 54 65 89 90 89

District of Columbia 174 190 180 110 138 141 63 73 78

Florida 99 103 102 -- -- -- -- -- --

Georgia 123 129 132 -- -- -- -- -- --

Kentucky 139 137 143 -- -- -- -- -- --

Louisiana 148 141 144 80 83 86 54 59 60

Maryland 110 115 119 -- -- -- -- -- --

Mississippi 129 137 144 -- -- -- -- -- --

North Carolina 168 169 173 -- -- -- -- -- --

Oklahoma 177 160 150 -- -- -- -- -- --

South Carolina 125 127 126 36 37 37 29 29 29

Tennessee 141 148 134 -- -- -- -- -- --

Texas -- -- 190 -- -- -- -- -- --

Virginia 198 -- -- 39 -- -- 20 -- --

West Virginia 142 146 153 45 46 49 32 32 32

West 78 mo 81 mo 83 mo 50 mo 53 mo 57 mo 59% 59% 64%

Alaska 89 90 79 59 60 52 66 67 66

Arizona 90 87 84 54 52 66 60 60 78

California 70 72 74 -- -- -- -- -- --

Colorado 116 131 127 43 49 48 37 37 38

Hawaii 114 107 122 -- -- -- -- -- --

Idaho 129 122 130 43 44 48 33 36 37

Montana 175 215 163 44 54 41 25 25 25

Nevada -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

New Mexico 65 70 73 33 35 37 51 50 51

Oregon 67 73 75 51 56 58 76 77 77

Utah 118 108 114 / / / / / /

Washington 76 85 91 53 61 70 70 72 77

Wyoming 72 69 70 42 40 40 58 58 57

Note: See Methodology for definitions of total maximum sentence length and minimum time to be served before release.

--Not reported.

/Not applicable. Sentencing statutes do not require any 

minimum time to be served before release.

a

Excludes inmates with sentences of life or death.

b

Based on jurisdictions that reported data on minimum time to be served and total maximum sentence

length.

c

Minimum time to be served includes inmates with

sentences of life or death.

d

Data pertain only to offenders sentenced under the

Sentencing Guidelines Act for offenses committed on

or after July 1, 1993.
+

 Sentences and Time Served 5

Table 3. First releases of violent State prisoners: Maximum sentence, time served, 

and percent of sentence served, 1992-94

1992 1993 1994

Region and jurisdiction

Mean 

maximum

sentence

Mean time

served in

prison/jail

Percent 

of sentence

served

Mean 

maximum

sentence

Mean time

served in

prison/jail

Percent 

of sentence

served

Mean 

maximum

sentence

Mean time

served in

prison/jail

Percent 

of sentence

served

 All participating States 98 mo 40 mo 41% 99 mo 43 mo 43% 98 mo 43 mo 44%

Northeast 98 mo 45 mo 45% 101 mo 52 mo 51% 102 mo 54 mo 53%

Connecticut 61 -- -- 68 -- -- 84 -- --

Maine -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Massachusetts -- -- -- 117 91 78 116 90 77

New Hampshirea 90 34 38 93 33 35 90 37 41

New Jersey 129 45 35 123 43 35 119 44 37

New York 83 43 51 86 45 53 87 47 54

Pennsylvania 127 52 41 122 57 47 121 59 49

Rhode Island -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Vermont 90 46 51 89 44 49 97 54 56

Midwest 88 mo 38 mo 43% 123 mo 37 mo 30% 120 mo 37 mo 31%

Illinois 84 35 41 86 35 41 79 34 43

Indiana -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Iowab 126 34 27 132 32 24 107 34 32

Kansasc -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Michigan -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 57 --

Minnesota 62 45 73 66 46 70 71 52 73

Missouri 107 56 52 106 55 52 96 49 51

Nebraskaa 89 39 44 85 38 45 94 42 45

North Dakotad 62 27 44 52 22 42 54 25 46

Ohio -- -- -- 230 37 16 239 40 17

South Dakota -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Wisconsin 68 29 43 67 28 42 66 25 38

South 115 mo 41 mo 36% 107 mo 44 mo 42% 105 mo 46 mo 43%

Alabama -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Arkansas 140 51 36 152 55 36 168 61 36

Delawared 66 36 55 57 36 62 56 33 59

District of Columbia 160 92 58 176 108 61 172 116 67

Florida 83 25 31 71 31 43 73 35 47

Georgia 112 47 42 117 50 43 102 49 48

Kentucky 106 34 32 128 37 29 96 36 38

Louisianad 96 67 70 103 67 65 108 62 57

Maryland 118 62 53 118 63 53 110 59 54

Mississippi 100 40 40 93 34 37 93 37 40

North Carolina 124 35 28 129 32 25 106 32 30

Oklahoma 100 34 34 100 33 33 107 38 36

South Carolinad 113 41 36 109 40 37 117 43 37

Tennessee 144 44 31 142 48 34 108 38 35

Texasd 139 41 29 147 51 35 145 56 39

Virginiad 176 51 29 -- -- -- -- -- --

West Virginia 106 39 37 109 49 45 114 61 54

West 65 mo 36 mo 55% 66 mo 37 mo 55% 65 mo 36 mo 56%

Alaska 106 70 66 107 70 65 107 70 65

Arizona 75 44 59 75 45 59 74 46 62

California 57 33 58 57 33 58 58 33 57

Colorado 78 39 50 73 39 53 67 35 52

Hawaii 132 55 42 142 55 39 125 52 42

Idahod 81 57 70 104 59 57 83 56 67

Montana 130 48 37 166 55 33 124 46 37

Nevada -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

New Mexico -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Oregond 123 40 33 109 42 39 103 43 42

Utahd 108 50 46 113 47 42 103 46 45

Washingtond 50 35 70 57 38 67 58 39 67

Wyoming 59 36 61 66 41 63 96 45 47

Note: Maximum sentence length excludes sentences of life

or death. Time served includes time served in jail and prison

before release, unless otherwise noted. See Methodology for 

definitions.

--Not reported.

a

Includes jail time for 1992 only.

b

1992 data were estimated from data supplied to the National

Corrections Reporting Program.

c

Data that were reported pertained only to offenders sentenced 

under the Sentencing Guidelines Act for offenses committed on 

or after July 1, 1993, and are excluded for reasons of comparability.

d

Excludes jail time for 1992, 1993, and 1994.

Table 3: As amended February 1996
Methodology

The National Corrections Reporting

Program (NCRP) was initiated in 1983

and annually collects individual-level

data on all persons admitted to and released from State and Federal prisons.

In 1992, 38 States and the District of

Columbia reported 431,279 admissions

to the program, representing an estimated 93% of all admissions to State

prisons nationwide that year. Release

data for 1992 were provided by 36

States, totalling 347,854 releases, 

or an estimated 86% of all releases

from State prisons.

For this report, to update the estimates

of both sentence length and time

served for violent offenses and to provide jurisdiction-level estimates, BJS

contacted each State corrections

agency. NCRP participants were

asked to verify estimates made from

1992 data and to provide similar estimates for 1993 and 1994. States not

participating in the NCRP were asked

to generate estimates of average sentences and time served for all 3 years.

Forty-nine States and the District of

Columbia provided data. BJS provided

all tables presenting State-level information to each State corrections

agency for verification. 

Limitations

For violent offenders admitted to

prison, the minimum time to be served

before becoming eligible for release is

projected, not actual, time. These estimates from prison records take into

account good-time provisions, early release practices, parole policies, and

other factors that affect time served.

These estimates may turn out to be

higher or lower than the actual time

served when these prisoners are 

eventually released.

For violent offenders released from

prison, the average sentence and time

served reflect the experience of persons actually released for the first time

on the current sentence. 

These figures exclude offenders 

who 

 had violated the conditions of their

release and who had been returned 

to prison

 were given a sentence that cannot

be included in an average, such as life,

life without parole, or death 

 would never get out of prison (those

who die in prison).

The sentences and time served statistics based on release data reflect sentences and correctional practices in the

past. Because less serious offenders

typically receive shorter sentences and

serve less time, they will comprise a

larger percentage of prisoners released than prisoners admitted during

a year. For example, those convicted

of homicide accounted for 4.2% of admissions in 1992 but 2.6% of those released from prison that year.

Unlike data in previous NCRP reports,

data in this report are based on aggregated data from each State. As a result, calculations of percent of

sentence served differ. In this report

the percent of sentence served was

calculated by dividing the average time

served (or minimum time to be served)

by the average total maximum sentence. In previous NCRP reports the

percent of sentence served for individual inmates was first calculated and

then averaged for the population. The

calculations in this report were based

on the best data readily available. 

 

Definitions and coverage

Jurisdictions were provided with the

following definitions and instructions 

for coverage:

Sentenced prisoners  Report data

for prisoners with a total maximum

sentence of more than 1 year.

New court commitments  Persons

entering prison directly from court and

not from any unsuccessful period of

community supervision.

First releases  Persons released for

the first time on the current sentence.

Exclude persons who had previously

been released for the same offense,

returned to prison, and then released

again.

Violent offenses  Crimes involving

personal injury, threat of injury, and

theft of property or attempted theft by

force or threat of force. Include murder, manslaughter, rape, other sexual

assault, robbery, assault, extortion, intimidation, criminal endangerment,

child abuse, and other offenses involving confrontational force or threat of

force.

Total maximum sentence length 

The total maximum term of incarceration including all consecutive

sentences.

Minimum time to be served  The

shortest time that each admitted prisoner is expected to serve prior to the

first release.

Explanatory notes by jurisdiction

Jurisdictions were instructed to provide

estimates when exact numbers were

not available. Jurisdictions were also

asked to provide an explanation when

their definitions or coverage differed

from those used in the NCRP. 

The following jurisdiction notes summarize these differences. Most States

used their own definition of violent offenses. The list below presents only

the exceptions to the NCRP definition

of violent offenses. If not noted, the

State definition of violent offenses

matched the NCRP categories. 

(See Definitions and coverage.)

Alabama

New court commitments and first releases: Include all admissions and

releases. 

Alaska

All data were estimated.

6 Violent Offenders in State Prison
Colorado

All data were estimated.

Violent offenses: Exclude simple

robbery.

Connecticut

Minimum time to be served and time

served in prison and jail: Offenders

serve 50% or more of the maximum

sentence if the sentence is greater

than 24 months.

Florida

Violent offenses: Include murder,

manslaughter, sexual battery, lewd

acts on children, robbery, aggravated

assault, and aggravated battery.

Minimum time to be served: Cannot

be accurately calculated, due to Florida's early-release process and various

gain-time laws. Recent changes in

gain-time laws and the elimination of

early release will make this evaluation

possible for future prison admissions. 

Hawaii

All data were estimated. Exclude inmates with missing charge information.

Maximum sentence length: Should be

considered as estimates because between a third and a half of admission

and release records had missing or incorrect data.

Time served in prison and jail: Include

jail time only for releases who were

continuously incarcerated from the

date of admission as pretrial felons until their date of release from prison.

Illinois

Minimum time to be served: All data

were estimated.

Indiana

Violent offenses: Include arson (class

A), customer product tampering (class

B), obstructing traffic (class D), and resisting law enforcement (classes C and

D).

New court commitments: Number of

admissions was estimated for 1993

and 1994.

Iowa

1992 data were based on a BJS analysis of State data in the NCRP.

First releases: Data for 1993 and 1994

were estimated based on release

samples.

Maximum sentence length: Data are

for the "lead" offense only.

Kansas

All figures pertain to offenders whose

admission or release was governed

solely by determinate sentences (that

is, sentenced only for offenses committed on or after July 1, 1993, the 

effective date of the Sentencing Guidelines Act). All offenders with active

"old" law sentences, as well as those

with both "new" and "old" law sentences, have been excluded.

Minimum time to be served: The current law provides for a maximum of

20% good time, leaving a minimum 

of 80% of the sentence to be served. 

First releases: Relatively few violent

offenders with only determinate sentences have been released since the

enactment of the Sentencing Guidelines Act. 

Kentucky

Violent offenses: Exclude sex

offenses.

Louisiana

Violent offenses: Include aggravated

arson, aggravated criminal damage to

property, intentional exposure of AIDS,

and mingling of harmful substances.

Exclude attempts and conspiracies to

commit violent offenses.

Maryland

First releases: Include only parolees,

mandatory releases to supervision, expirations of sentence, and commutations. Releases do not necessarily

represent first releases. Logic was

used to exclude offenders whose stay

time was greater than or equal to their

total sentence length. 

Massachusetts

All data were estimated.

Michigan

Violent offenses: Include arson.

First releases: 1994 data were based

on a sample of prisoners with their first

release or discharge in the fourth quarter of that year and extrapolated to the

full year.

Minnesota

All data were estimated.

Good time was eliminated for inmates

sentenced for crimes committed after

August 1, 1993. The sentencing court

is now required to pronounce a term of

imprisonment, 100% of which must be

served by the inmate. The term of imprisonment cannot be shortened but

may be increased as a result of disciplinary infractions during incarceration.

Missouri

Violent offenses: Include family 

offenses and weapons offenses.

New court commitments and first releases: Exclude shock cases released

to probation after 120 days.

Montana

Data are for fiscal years.

New Mexico

Data are for fiscal years.

Violent offenses: Include bringing contraband into prison, escape, dangerous

use of explosives, weapons possession, and sexual exploitation.

 Sentences and Time Served 7
New York

Violent offenses: All data pertain to

violent felony offenders as defined by

New York State Penal Law. Include

first- and second-degree arson and

weapons offenses. Exclude manslaughter (2nd), other homicide, robbery (3rd), attempted assault (2nd),

and coercive sex offenses other than

rape (1st), sodomy (1st), and sexual

abuse (1st).

Minimum time to be served and time

served in prison and jail: Include inmates with sentences of life or death. 

North Carolina

Data on admissions and releases were

estimated. 

Violent offenses: Include felonies only

 misdemeanors are excluded. Violent offenses include arson, burning of

property, incest, possession of weapon

by inmate, riot and civil disorder, failure

to disperse, looting, violation of emergency ordinance, and repeat felon with

a deadly weapon.

First releases: General statutes impose a "cap" on the prison population.

If a population emergency is declared,

the Parole Commission must accelerate paroles to reduce population. 

During 1994 the Parole Commission

slowed down the release of violent 

offenders as additional space became

available.

Minimum time to be served and time

served in prison and jail: For inmates

with crimes prior to October 1994,

North Carolina law grants day-for-day

good-time credit; therefore, inmates

usually serve 50% or less of their 

sentence. Inmates with crimes after

October 1994 will serve 100% of their

minimum sentence. They may also

serve an additional 20% of their minimum sentence, if they violate prison

rules.

North Dakota

Minimum time to be served: All data

were estimated. 

Oregon

Sentencing guidelines apply to convicted offenders who committed their

crimes after November 1, 1989.

These offenders must serve at least

80% of their sentence. Prior to the

adoption of guidelines, the date of release was determined by a parole

board. 

During the 1992-94 period, most new

commitments of violent offenders were

guideline cases, and most releases

were pre-guideline cases. As the size

of the guidelines portion of the first release group increases, the effect will

be a rising length of time actually

served and a declining maximum 

sentence length.

Pennsylvania

Violent offenses: Include arson 

of occupied structure.

 

Rhode Island

Violent offenses: Exclude sex

offenses.

New court commitments: 1993 and

1994 data represented total commitments with sentences of more than 

6 months. Information was based 

on the March 1995 monthly report 

and projected for each year.

South Carolina

Violent offenses: Include exposing

others to HIV and felony DUI resulting

in death. 

Minimum time to be served: All data

were estimated. 

South Dakota

Violent offenses: Include rioting, burglary in the first or second degree, and

other felonies in which a dangerous

weapon or any explosive or destructive

device was used.

Tennessee 

Data are for prisoners with a total

maximum sentence of 1 year or more.

Texas

Data are for fiscal years.

New court commitments: Exclude 

parole or mandatory release violators.

First releases: Include all violent parolees, mandatory supervision releases,

and discharges including violators (not

just first releases).

Utah

Minimum time to be served: No statutory minimum time to be served before

release exists under Utah's indeterminate sentencing system. All release

decisions are made on an individual

basis by Utah's Board of Pardons 

and Parole. 

Vermont

Violent offenses: Include arson resulting in death, elderly abuse, habitual 

offender, hate crime, and lewd and 

lascivious conduct.

First releases: All data were

estimated.

Virginia

Violent offenses: Include arson resulting in death, sex offenses against children, incest with child, bigamy, threats

to bomb or burn, and firing into a dwelling, building, or occupied vehicle. 

Washington

Minimum time to be served, maximum

sentence of first releases, and time

served: All data were estimated.

West Virginia

All data were estimated.

Wyoming

First releases: All 1994 data were

estimated.

8 Violent Offenders in State Prison
 Sentences and Time Served 9

Notes. (Please provide an explanation, if possible, where your State numbers differ from those defined by BJS.

For example, if your State's definition of violent offenses differs, indicate here.)

1. New Court Commitments of Violent Sentenced Prisoners During the Calendar Year  

 1992 

BJS analysis of

State data 

 1992 

Your State's

statistics

 993 

Your State's

statistics 

 1994 

Your State's

statistics 

A. Number admitted Est. Est. Est.

B. Average total maximum

sentence length (in months)

Exclude sentences of life or death

Est.

 

 

Est. Est.

C. Average minimum time to be

served (in months) Est. Est. Est.

2. First Releases of Violent Sentenced Prisoners During the Calendar Year 

 1992 

BJS analysis of

State data 

 1992 

Your State's

statistics

 1993 

Your State's

statistics

 1994 

Your State's

statistics

A. Number released Est. Est. Est.

B. Average total maximum

sentence length (in months)

Exclude sentences of life or death

Est. Est. Est.

C. Average time served in 

prison and jail (in months) Est. Est. Est.

 

 Is jail time included? Yes

 No

 Yes

 No

 Yes

 No

 Yes

 No 
10 Violent Offenders in State Prison

The Bureau of Justice Statistics 

is the statistical agency of the 

U.S. Department of Justice. 

Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D., is the

director.

Selected Findings usually present

data from both Bureau of Justice

Statistics programs and other

sources.

Allen J. Beck and Lawrence A.

Greenfeld wrote this report. Tom

Bonczar, Peter Brien, and Darrell

Gilliard collected the data and provided a statistical review. Jodi

Brown and Coliece Rice verified the

tables. Tom Hester produced the

report. Marilyn Marbrook supervised final production, assisted by

Jayne Robinson and Yvonne

Boston. 

The authors acknowledge the 

contributions of departments of 

corrections throughout the Nation.

Without their efforts and assistance,

this report would not have been

possible.

July 1995, NCJ-154632

Correction Notice

Table 3 on page 5 has been revised. 

California submitted revised numbers; 

consequently, the numbers for the 

Western region and the Nation 

also changed.