The Nation : Longer Sentences Urged

Juvenile records and past drug abuse should be considered in sentencing adult convicts, in order to identify the career criminals, the National Research Council said in Washington, reporting on a government-commissioned study. The panel said it found that addicts and those with juvenile records are much more likely to be repeat offenders as adults. It said these factors should be given greater weight in deciding on pre-trial release, plea bargaining, sentencing and parole because sending chronic offenders to prison for longer terms could reduce the crime rate perhaps 10%.