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10 American J. Crim. Just. 1 (1985-1986)

handle is hein.journals/acnjrlocm10 and id is 1 raw text is: AJCJ Vol. X, No. 1 (1985) AGENDA BUILDING IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE: THE CASE OF DETERMINATE SENTENCING By Lawrence F. Travis III* Edward J. Latessa* Gennaro F. Vito** An understanding of policy development, change and implementation is a necessary ingredient in analysis of criminal justice policy. This paper attempts to describe the process of policy formation in criminal justice within the framework of Agenda Building. Through case studies of sentencing reform policy changes in two states, the applicability of the Agenda Building model to the study of criminal justice policy is demonstrated. The argument is advanced that, through the use of such approaches to the study of justice policy change, we will enhance our understanding of the diversity of specific policies and practices which can emerge from an apparently unified reform movement. Further, it is suggested that an enhanced understanding of policy development will allow reformers to better direct and control policy formulation.l The past ten years have been a period of tremendous activity in criminal justice reform, particularly in the area of sentencing. Between 1976 and 1980, fourteen states enacted some form of determinate sentencing structure (Kannesohn, 1980; Travis & O'Leary, 1979; Adams, Kenney, Longmire & Vito, 1980). States as diverse geographically and politically as California and Maine, New York and Oregon initiated similar reforms withina span of months. The new sentencing proposals were also quite diverse, ranging from narrowly defined presumptive sentencing schemes to judicial sentencing guidelines to models *University of Cincinnati, Department of Criminal Justice **University of Louisville, School of Justice Administration 1