Final Review Flashcards
(358 cards)
Sentencing
The imposition of a criminal sanction by a judicial authority.
Goals of Sentencing/Punishment: Retribution
Act of taking revenge on a criminal perpetrator; ‘eye for an eye’. Just deserts: Criminal defenders deserve the punishment they received at the hands of the law, and the punishment should be appropriate to the type and severity of the crime.
Goals of Sentencing/Punishment: Incapacitation
The use of imprisonment or other means to reduce the likelihood that the offender will commit future offenses. The main goal is to protect the innocent members of society.
Goals of Sentencing/Punishment: Deterrence
Inhibit criminal behavior through fear of punishment. General vs. specific deterrence. Recidivism: Relapsing into a problem or criminal behavior during or after receiving sanctions.
Goals of Sentencing/Punishment: Rehabilitation
The attempt to reform a criminal offender.
Goals of Sentencing/Punishment: Restoration
The attempt to make a victim ‘whole’ again. Restorative justice: A sentencing model that builds on restitution and community participation.
Indeterminate Sentencing
A model of criminal punishment that encourages rehabilitation through the use of general and relatively unspecific sentences. Allows for judicial choice: can do range. Inmates have a say in how long they are incarcerated (better behavior). Parole plays a big role.
Criticisms of Indeterminate Sentencing
Allows judge too much discretion: Judge personality and personal philosophies produce too wide a range of sentencing practices, extra-legal facts may influence judge in sentencing. Dishonesty in sentencing: Time served in prison is far less than a sentence would indicate.
Good Time
Reduce time served with good behavior.
Gain Time
Reduce time served for participation in projects and programs.
Structured Sentencing: Determinate
An offender is given a fixed term of imprisonment. Can be reduced by good or gain time.
Structured Sentencing: Voluntary/Advisory Sentencing Guidelines
Recommended sentencing policies that are not required by law.
Structured Sentencing: Presumptive: Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines
Aggravating circumstances: Make sentences longer. Mitigating circumstances: Make sentences shorter.
Mandatory Sentencing
A structured sentencing scheme that allows no leeway in the nature of the sentence required and under which clearly enumerated punishments are mandated for specific offenses or for habitual offenders convicted of a series of crimes; judge has no discretion.
Three Strike Laws
CA, 25 years to life for a third felony with convictions for 2 or more serious or violent prior offenses. Criticisms: It doesn’t work, increased number and severity of nonviolent offense convictions, more expensive, increased prison population, increased prison overcrowding, back up the courts, no one pleads guilty.
Resentence Investigation
The examination of a convicted offender’s background prior to sentencing.A detailed written export of the defendant’s personal and criminal history. An abbreviated written report summarizing the information most likely to be useful in a sentencing decision. A verbal report to the court made by the investigating officer based on field notes.
Victim Impact Statement
The in-court use of victim- or survivor-supplied information by sentencing authorities seeking to make an informed sentencing decision. The offender describes loss, suffering, trauma, impact on victim and victim’s family.
How do judges decide
Legal variables: Have to be considered. Prior record score. Offense severity score. Extralegal variables: Not supposed to be considered. Race/ethnicity. Sex. Age. Mode of conviction.
Fines
All technically but usually for smaller offenses. Pros/Cons: Deprive offender of proceeds of criminal activity. reduce prison crowding. enforce economic responsibility. inexpensive to administer. offenders usually poor.
Day fines
Fines that are proportional to both the seriousness of the offense and the financial resources of the offender.
Death Penalty (Pros/Cons)
Just deserts (for the state). Revenge/retribution (for the family). Protection (for everyone). Innocent people have been executed. Lack of proven deterrence. Arbitrariness: Finances play a large role in who gets sentenced to death. Discrimination. Expense. Human life is sacred and the state should never kill.
Capital Offense
A crime that is punishable by death.
Capital Punishment
Death penalty.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A writ that directs the person detaining a prisoner to bring him or her before a judicial officer to determine the lawfulness of the imprisonment.