Sentencing Essays - Criminal Law, Criminology, Penology, Sentencing

Sentencing Essays - Criminal Law, Criminology, Penology, Sentencing Sentencing Sentencing The objectives of punishment within the United States corrections system are detailed and precise. State and federal objectives of punishment are very similar. Sentencing impacts the corrections system, both state and federal, in a positive aspect. When a crime has been committed and the person is officially found guilty, sentencing occurs in the criminal justice system. Many things are considered throughout a trial in order to determine whether the defendant is guilty. Sentencing may include any of the following: fines, prison, probation, community service, etc. There is no set sentencing for every crime; sentencing is determined on a case to case basis. Sentencing has a major impact on corrections in general. The main goal of the criminal justice system is to protect the community and essentially serve justice. Sentencing plays an important role in the criminal justice system. Retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation are all included in the objectives of punishment. There are many different reasons a court may determine whether one should be sentenced or not. These reasons may include any of the following: to ensure that the criminal is punished properly for the crime committed, to prevent someone from repeating the same criminal act, protect the community, to allow time for rehabilitation, or to give some type of justice to the victim, their family, and the community affected by the crime. There are two types of deterrence which include: ?specific deterrence, which aims to dissuade the offender from committing further crime; and general deterrence, which aims to dissuade others who have been made aware of the punishment inflicted upon the offender from committing crime? (Palmer, 2010). In order to make it aware to the community that offenders have been punished, sentencing makes it clear that punishment is occurring. It has been recognized by the courts that deterrence is considered one of the main purposes of criminal punishment. Corporate crime is taken seriously because it is not only hard to detect as well as it causes harm or loss in some way to the public. The main purpose of creating deterrence was to ensure that the criminal realizing the crime they committed, prevents other people from committed that crime as well as it gives a sense of satisfaction to society that someone is being punished for their crime. The overall goal of retribution is to reduce crime. Retribution is basically the idea that an offender should get the punishment they deserve for the crime they committed. It is a ?punishment that is considered morally right and fully deserved? (Norm, 2008). People believe that retribution is a valid objective of punishment and is used when necessary. Retribution is to help teach criminals that crime does not benefit them and to not return to crime. Rehabilitation is more than necessary in the sentencing process. It fundamentally differs from deterrence, retribution, and incarceration because those three perspectives do not make any effort to change or improve the criminal. Rehabilitation focuses on helping a person improve their lifestyle and mindset in order to prepare them to return to society again. Many people believe that the corrections system should have a bigger expectation on the rehabilitation of prisoners and want people to receive proper treatment programs considering rehabilitation is a major step in the war against crime. Incarceration helps to keep a close watch on criminals and remove them from society and essentially reduce crime. ?If behind bars and thus "incapacitated," crime will be impossible because the offender is not free in society where innocent citizens can be criminally victimized? (Norm, 2008). Incarceration helps to prevent crime for a set time, but it does not reduce crime if the person continues to commit crimes after being released from prison. Sentencing impacts the state and federal corrections system because it plays a major role in crime prevention and justice. Sentencing allows time for an offender to be punished and time for the community to help reduce crime. The corrections system would be nothing without sentencing. The objectives of punishment have changed the way sentences are determined in a positive way. The corrections system relies on the way sentencing is handled in order to maintain organization and respect from the public. The objectives of punishment in