NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- A Vanderbilt criminologist says Tennessee’s prison sentencing guidelines are in need of major revisions.
Dr. Christopher Slobogin teaches Criminal Justice at Vanderbilt University. Slobogin told the Senate Judiciary Committee research says long prison sentences don’t reduce crime or increase public safety but do cost taxpayers a lot of money.
Slobogin testified Monday that several of Tennessee’s neighboring states have undertaken prison reform in recent years resulting in shorter sentences, a drop in crime and a reduction in costs.
He says that by contrast Tennessee’s prison population and costs have skyrocketed.
“Back in 1981 there was 171 prisoners per 100,000 residents and in 2013 it 438 prisoners per 100,000 residents. That’s a huge increase -- 256 percent increase -- with no appreciable decrease in the crime rate and an incredible increase in expense.”
Among his recommendations to the committee, Slobogin says judges should be given more leeway to make sentences fit the crime and the criminal.
He also suggests a state sentencing commission be form to help legislators and the governor reform sentencing guidelines.