Watts v. Hadden’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

10 federal appellate · 3 district ·

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 20 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““ ‘Treatment’ means corrective and preventative guidance and training designed to protect the public by correcting the antisocial tendencies of youth offenders.””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 487 F. Supp. 977 - Johnson v. Bell · Watts v. Hadden

2. “(a) If an eligible prisoner has substantially observed the rules of the institution or institutions to which he has been confined, and if the Commission, upon consideration of the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the prisoner, determines: (1) that release would not depreciate the seriousness of his offense or promote disrespect for the law; and (2) that release would not jeopardize the public welfare; subject to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, and pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the Commission pursuant to section 4203(a)(1), such prisoner shall be released. (b) The Commission shall furnish the eligible prisoner with a written notice of its determination not later than twenty-to days, excluding holidays, after the date of the parole determination proceeding. If parole is denied such notice shall state with particularity the reasons for such denial. (c) The Commission may grant or deny release on parole notwithstanding the guidelines referred to in subsection (a) of this section if it determines there is good cause for so doing: PROVIDED, That the prisoner is furnished written notice stating with particularity the reasons for its determination, including a summary of the information relied upon. (d) Any prisoner, serving a sentence of five years or longer, who is not earlier released under this section or any other applicable provision of law, shall be released on parole after having served two-third”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 487 F. Supp. 977 - Johnson v. Bell

3. “It is neither necessary nor appropriate to resolve this question of correctional philosophy to determine the issues in this case. It is not a judicial question. It is a political question which must be awarded by the political branches of government. All that must be determined here is which of the political branches has controlling authority where there is a direct conflict between the Congress and agencies in the Executive Branch. The answer to that question is rooted in the basic principles of representative government. It is as much for those who are the elected representatives of the people to determine the parameters of the penal system as it is for them to define what conduct shall be characterized as criminal. In sum, the power to make the law is the power of the legislature. * * * * * * In the enactment of the YCA, Congress clearly and unequivocally directed the establishment of a separate system of rehabilitative treatment for youthful offenders and required the consideration of its use by sentencing judges as an alternative to imprisonment. When that judicial discretion has been exercised by a commitment for treatment, it is the plain duty of the Bureau of Prisons to conform to the legislative mandate.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 654 F. Supp. 265 - Johnson v. Meese