Sentencing and Alternatives

Question 1

What happened in Tarasoff v Regents?

Answer 1

A patient (Poddar) told his therapist he intended to kill Tatiana Tarasoff. The therapist notified police but did not warn Tatiana or her family. Poddar later killed her.

Issue: Do mental health professionals have a duty to warn potential victims if a patient makes a serious threat?

Holding: Yes

Significance: Established the “duty to protect”

Question 2

What are the goals of imprisonment?

Answer 2

General deterrence
Specific deterrence
Retribution
Rehabilitation

Question 3

What is the trend of incarceration rates and how do they and crime rates correlate?

Answer 3

Incarceration rose a great deal in 1970s but have declined in recent years.

Do not really have a strong correlation.

Question 4

What are the three countries with highest incarceration rates?

Answer 4

US, El Salvador, and Rwanda

Question 5

How many males born in 2001 experience some form of imprisonment?

Answer 5

1/9

Question 6

What are the legal standards in sentencing?

Answer 6

Race may not be a consideration in a criminal sentence.

Reasonable Observer standard

Actual reliance standard

Question 7

What is the observer standard?

Answer 7

An objective legal test asking what an average, reasonable person (or observer) would think or do in a given situation

Question 8

What is the actual reliance standard?

Answer 8

This is a subjective test that asks whether the individual in question actually relied on a statement, promise, or law when acting.