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Impact of Mandatory Sentencing Policies on Alabama's Prison Populations Stephanie Elaine Stewart Walden University

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Impact of Mandatory Sentencing Policies on Alabama's Prison Populations Stephanie Elaine Stewart Walden University Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Impact of Mandatory Sentencing Policies on Alabama's Prison Populations Stephanie Elaine Stewart Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Political Science Commons, Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Stephanie E. Stewart has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Anthony Fleming, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. John Walker, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Paul Rutledge, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2019 Abstract Impact of Mandatory Sentencing Policies on Alabama’s Prison Populations by Stephanie E. Stewart MPA, Auburn University Montgomery, 2007 BS, Faulkner University, 2001 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Public Administration Walden University August 2019 Abstract State prison systems, particularly in the Southern US, have been overpopulated for decades with unlikely support for building new prisons which has led to overcrowding. Policy makers, however, have adopted mandatory minimum policies that include harsher sanctions for habitual offenders which exacerbated the problem of overcrowding, yet little is understood about how sentencing reform is associated with overpopulation. Using Clear and Schrantz’ conceptualization of prison population change, the purpose of this quantitative descriptive study was to understand how one prison system in a southern state was impacted over a 10-year period by the implementation of mandatory minimum sentencing requirements. Data were collected from publicly available resources from a state department of corrections and state law enforcement agencies related to crime rates, sentence terms, parole rates, and prison population for the years 1993 through 2013. These data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and visual examination of line plots. Findings indicated that the state’s prison population did not change following the 2003 enactment of mandatory-minimum sentencing. Though no changes in prison population trends were observed, further testing may be considered to better understand the relationship between sentencing reform efforts and strengthened provisions to the laws regarding habitual felony offenders. The implications for positive social change stemming from this study includes recommendations to lawmakers to expand research and use the results as the basis of future decisions to either revise or eliminate mandatory sentencing policies taking into consideration crowding in state prisons . Impact of Mandatory Sentencing Policies on Alabama’s Prison Populations by Stephanie E. Stewart MPA, Auburn University Montgomery, 2007 BS, Faulkner University, 2001 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Public Administration Walden University August 2019 Dedication I dedicate this study to the state of Alabama as an evidence-based tool to assist with future policy development. I hope that this study will serve as a contribution to the criminal justice field in that it will be used to aid in decision-making efforts to relieve the crowded prison system. Acknowledgments First of all, I thank God for equipping me to endure this journey. I am grateful to my family who have supported me and made many sacrifices throughout the process. My husband, Nathan, and my children, Kadamian, Aisha, and Darius, have been extremely patient and supportive over the years. I especially want to thank my sister, Tommicita, for providing emotional support and inspiration along the way. Additionally, I would like to thank my chair, Dr. Anthony Fleming; committee member, Dr. John Walker; and university research reviewer, Dr. Paul Rutledge, for their guidance and encouragement throughout the process. I am also grateful for my coworkers, friends, and mentors who took the time out of their busy schedules to provide me with valuable guidance that has made this goal attainable. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................4 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................5 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................6 Research Questions and Hypotheses .............................................................................7 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 7 Hypotheses .............................................................................................................. 9 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................9 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................10 Definitions....................................................................................................................11 Assumptions .................................................................................................................12 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................13 Limitations ...................................................................................................................14 Biases 15 Measures to Address Limitations.......................................................................... 15 Significance..................................................................................................................16 Summary ......................................................................................................................17 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................19 i Empowering Prosecutors, Disempowering Judges, and Shortchanging Minorities .........................................................................................................20 Decades of Crowding in State Prisons .........................................................................22 Challenges of Reducing Prison Populations by Releasing Offenders Into Society..............................................................................................................25 Alabama’s Historical Struggle With Prison Crowding ................................................27 Consequences of Politicians’ Get-Tough-on-Crime Approach ...................................30 Possible Approaches to Productive Policy Reformation .............................................32 Build More Prisons or Invest in Community-Based Programs ...................................35 Account and Impact of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Policies .............................36 Effects of Plea Bargaining on Prison Populations .......................................................39 Mandatory Minimum Policies Conflict With Sentencing Policies ..............................40 Alabama Sentencing Commission ...............................................................................44 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................47 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................49 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................49 Data Collection ............................................................................................................54 Data Analysis Plan .......................................................................................................54 Research Question 1 ............................................................................................. 55 Research Question 2 ............................................................................................. 55 Research Question 3 ............................................................................................. 55 Research Question 4 ............................................................................................
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