Sentencing: Allocation of Authority - Definition Of Sentencing Discretion, A Discretion Diagram, Indeterminate Sentencing Systems, Statutory Determinate Sentencing, Mandatory Penalties
In the United States there are now a wide range of legal approaches to the sentencing of criminal offenders. These include indeterminate sentencing systems in many states, statutory determinate systems in a few others, and a growing number of sentencing guideline systems among the states and in federal law. The diversity in legal structure for punishment decisions has brought with it a great deal of experimentation concerning which decision-makers hold meaningful authority—or discretion—over sentencing outcomes. Allocations of sentencing discretion can be remarkably different as one moves from one American jurisdiction to another.
KEVIN R. REITZ
See also AMNESTY AND PARDON; CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; GUILTY PLEA: PLEA BARGAINING; PROBATION AND PAROLE: PROCEDURAL PROTECTION; PROBATION AND PAROLE: SUPERVISION; PROSECUTION: PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION; PUNISHMENT; SENTENCING: DISPARITY; SENTENCING: GUIDELINES; SENTENCING: MANDATORY AND MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES; SENTENCING: PRESENTENCE REPORT; SENTENCING: PROCEDURAL PROTECTION.
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