In the book, A place to Stand, by Jimmy Santiago Baca, Baca writes about prison and how being incarcerated can have impact on a person and their family. With the most beautiful, strong and poetic language, Baca tells us the story of all the people who faces difficult times in order to find their place in the world. Baca always felt like he had no place to stand in society because, all of his life he was put down by his family and friends. From the age of five Baca experienced his dad and uncles going in and out of jail from being addicted to alcohol. Baca knew he would eventually end up in jail sooner or later because that’s what he had experienced all of his life. Baca writes, “Whether I was approaching it or seeking escape from it, jail always defined in some way the measure of my life” (3). Baca felt that his life would always head in the wrong direction because of his family issues. Baca shows being in prison can cause a lot of emotional impact on a person’s life, as well as affect the community.…
As a Criminologist Advisor to the State Legislature, I have been chosen to provide a prison term policy on armed robbery. Currently the legislature will soon be voting on a bill that would double the maximum prison term for anyone convicted of armed robbery. First I would like to define what the legal definition of armed robbery is as defined by the Black's Law Dictionary which is: an aggravated form of robbery in which the defendant is armed with a dangerous weapon, though it is not necessary to prove that he used the weapon to effectuate the robbery. The taking of property from person or presence of another by use of force or by threatening use of force while armed with a dangerous weapon (Black's Law Dictionary, 6th Edition).…
The most dramatic developments in the Criminal Justice system during the late 20th Century were the revolution of the sentencing system. Prior to the sentencing reforms of 1984, most of the 20th century federal sentencing was largely based on rehabilitative model where sentencing was indeterminate. By the 1970s, the traditional sentencing system came under increasing attack as public interest in the criminal justice system prompted “crime research boom time” (Nagel, 1990; Wilkins, 1987). The concerns manifested to a policy reform focusing on retribution, deterrence and incapacitation as means of getting tough on crime and.…
I do think that the mandatory sentencing is one approach to solving the drug problem, but I do not think that it is the only one. It is clear that the sentencing works to a certain extent, but is not the right choice for every situation. Personally, I feel like this is a gray area due to the fact that mandatory sentencing gives definitive discipline to someone who broke the law. Where in specific cases that approach is too strict. Although I do not have a direct answer to solve this problem, I think that different variables should play into the sentencing.…
With the decrease of the budget, it has made the parole offices job harder, with fewer people working and less recourse at their disposal. With the increase of caseload, this has created a system where everything is taking to much time by looking at paroles case by case (tt). There needs to be a new system introduced that have a better effect on oversight, control and consistency (tt). There needs to be new policy introduced that bring better community structure that allows the individual to feel a part of society which would stop them to commit a crime. There is the ideology struggle we think incarceration is the best form of punishment this has to change. The parole system does not work most criminal are sent back to prison. There has been…
Every situation in life is unique and has its own set of circumstances. Crime is no different, which is why it often difficult to effectively use policies like mandatory minimum sentences, because not every crime is the same. It is acceptable for their to be some disparity in sentencing for similar crimes, but there still needs to be some consistency. The initiation of mandatory minimum sentences was due in large part to the fact that judges had too much discretion and it led to many similar cases having wildly different sentences.1 There was sound reasoning for enacting mandatory minimum sentences, but they “are the product of good intentions, but good intentions do not always make good policy; good results are also necessary.”1 Mandatory…
Prison experiences are shared by those who spent much time behind the bars and most of the experiences shared exemplify how cruel the prison system really was showing that no rehabilitation was occurring due to an excess in punishment. The Los Angeles Times published an article, “Cruel and Usual Punishment in Jails and Prisons,” in which ex-prisoners were interviewed and shared stories of their time in prison, many of which showed how corrupt prisons have truly become. The stories described prisons as appalling and cruel, one prisoner describe being handcuffed every day to his bunk while he had to remain only in his underwear, another prisoner described how it was to live in a cell located directly under broken toilet pipes for weeks resulting…
The last stage of a criminal trial is known as sentencing. During sentencing the convening authority over the criminal court proceedings makes a determination of how the guilty party should be punished. Prior to that determination being made both the defense attorneys and prosecutors may make their arguments as to why or why not the defendant should be punished to the fullest of the law. The judge taking these arguments into consideration makes his or her decision on what type sentence to hand down. While the main goal is to punish those that are found guilty there are five sentencing rationales in use in the American criminal justice system. These rationales are retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, restoration, and incapacitation. In the case of State v. Stu Dents, the judge will use the rationales of rehabilitation and incapacitation. The defense and prosecutors will make their arguments and propose the type of sentence Mr. Dents should receive which in turn will protect him and society.…
During the proposal being summarized it will cover the main subjects to include the objectives and goals of the bill. What if any of the solutions involved and expected in the bill as well as the justifications for the bill to become a law or if not, the reasons behind the cause. As a criminal adviser for my legislator, it is the requirement of this position to make a qualitative recommendation based on research. The bill before this adviser is a popular one but it also can become one that may be more than what is needed for the criminal offenses it will cover. The cost could become very prohibitive and the reasoning for the bill may not be justifiable.…
The inmate prison population of the BOP increased over the past few years due to federal sentencing of drug offenses and immigration. Changes in sentencing policies have increased the mandatory minimum sentencing as well as changes in the federal criminal code in which it increased the amount of crimes seen as federal offenses, also the repeal of parole. Since these changes certain crimes are now deemed as federal offenses, which require a longer period of prison time. War on drugs has cause an increase in the prison populations due to high level of harsh prison sentencing’s. Although the attempts at the three strikes system was an effort in decreasing the prison population it did not work. Focus needs to be placed on rehabilitation of inmates…
Outline the power of the courts in sentencing offenders by using one example of a summary offence and indictable offence.…
A tradeoff for option one, the termination of mandatory sentencing for minor offenses, convey a problematic idea. Giving these minor wrongdoers the inappropriate perception by committing a minor misconduct there won't be any aftermath. As concurred by Evan Bernick and Paul J. Larkin, Jr. (2014), “they argue that mandatory minimum sentences reflect a societal judgment that certain offenses demand a specified minimum sanction and thereby ensure that anyone who commits such a crime cannot avoid a just punishment”. Secondly elimination of mandatory sentencing rejects the idea of sentencing disparity, as agreed by Evan Bernick and Paul J. Larkin, Jr. (2014), “mandatory minimum…
Equity is defined as the sentencing principle that similar crimes and similar criminals should be treated alike. (Frank Schmalleger, 2007)Equity in sentencing has been an issue for quite a while. It has sparked heated discussions in the U.S. Congress, as well as arguments among community members. Supporters of equity in sentencing try to inspire changes to our current legislation, and its opponents are attempting to abolish it in its entirety.…
Convicted felons can be punished in many different ways, but one thing is sure it would not be cruel and unusual. Before we look at how we punish offenders we must first understand why we are punishing them. The general purpose behind punishment is to inflict upon criminals some kind of suffering for the crime that they have committed or to protect society from those considered too dangerous to live amongst us. Punishment, a necessary evil, is sometimes required to deter law violators from repeating their crime and to serve as an example to others who would also violate the law. Schmalleger, Frank J. Criminal Justice Today An Introductory Text for the 21st Century (81).…
Topic: Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.…