sentencing guidelines
Punishment recommendation framework
Sentencing guidelines are standards that courts follow when determining punishments for criminal convictions.
They typically specify ranges of penalties based on the severity of the offense and the defendant's prior record, aiming to promote consistency and reduce disparities across similar cases.
In the United States, federal sentencing guidelines were once mandatory but are now advisory following Supreme Court rulings.
The judge departed from the sentencing guidelines due to mitigating circumstances.
- criminal justice systemFramework for prosecuting offenders
- penal codeLaws governing offenses
- sentencing hearingsCourt sessions determining punishment
- probationSupervised trial period
- bench trialCourt case, judge only
criminal history · first-time offender · three strikes law · appeals process · mitigating circumstances · sentencing reform · white collar crime · proportionality · disparity · aggravating factors · retributive justice · fines · plea bargains · parole · community service · victim impact statements · federal · felony
- criminal justicearrest, jail, court, prison, crime
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- penologypenology, prisons, incarceration, parole board, prison
- Criminal Procedurearraignment, arrest, grand jury, investigation, guilty plea
- drug lawscontrolled substances, drug scheduling, drug classification, Schedule II, Schedule IV
- drug policynarcotics, drug reform, drug enforcement, drug policy, decriminalization
sentencing guidelinesrestorative justice
Conflict resolution through mutual healing