The Impact Of Sentencing Models On Corrections

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The Impact of Sentencing Models on Corrections
There are three type of sentencing models used by judges for the sentencing phase of trials; indeterminate, determinate, and mandatory. These sentencing models are used to bring justice to those who are convicted of crimes and must now live with the consequences of their actions. Justice is a word that has a different meaning to each individual person. This paper will discuss, in detail, the meaning of justice, the three types of sentencing models, the pros and cons of each model, and the impact each one has had and continues to have on corrections.
Justice
Justice is described as “a moral concept that is difficult to define, but in essence it means to treat people in ways consistent with …show more content…

73). This model is designed to give convicts the control to decide if they serve on low end of the range of years or the high end of the range of years. The responsibility is on the inmate to take part in and complete the rehabilitation programs within the prison successfully, or spend a longer time in prison for failure to do so. One of issues with this sentencing model is that not all convicts want to change their behavior, and often end up serving most of, if not the entire sentence. This model leads to severe overcrowding, which affects the quality of life and the rehabilitation programs within the prison. “The core problems of an increasing prison population will result in administrative release compelled by overcrowding rather than an individualized and measured assessment” (Perrin, 2010). The mixing of violent and nonviolent offenders makes it difficult to distinguish who deserves to be released, and who should remain in …show more content…

74). This model is based on the classical notion that all those convicted of the same crime receive a fixed sentence, but not necessarily the same sentence. A factor that affects the sentence received is whether the person convicted is a first time or repeat offender; repeat offenders often receive harsher sentences than first time offenders. Sentencing guidelines are used to mitigate sentencing disparity, and give judges a guideline to use besides their biased opinions of the convicted persons and the crime they committed. The sentencing guidelines use a numerical system for computing sentences that fit the crime(s) committed (Stohr, Walsh,

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