Sentencing Information Systems

Abstract The move toward structured sentencing in the 1980s was accompanied by the creation of sentencing commissions that took a data-driven approach to monitoring trends and patterns. These data are frequently used in government reports and scientific studies. Yet challenges with sentencing data systems limit the ability to investigate crucial research questions, including those related to disparities and the potential impact of sentencing reform. There is tremendous variation in the availability, accessibility, and regulations that govern the use of sentencing data. This chapter reviews the current state of sentencing data and provides recommendations on how to improve the country’s criminal justice data infrastructure.