Criminal Justice: The Goals of Sentencing

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Sentencing is the imposition of a criminal sanction by a sentencing authority , such as a judge. Schmallger & Smykla, 2009, pg# 71) There are seven goals of sentencing including revenge, retribution, just deserts, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation and restoration. Revenge refers to a retaliation to some kind of assault and injury. Revenge can be a type of punishment for the criminal justice system. The jury, sometimes, basis there choices on emotions, facts and evidence. It is considered revenge in some cases because the victim's looks at it that way when they feel justice has been served. Retribution is a type of sentencing involving another form of retaliation. Retribution means "paying back" the offender for what he or she has done. ( Schmalleger & Smykla, 2009, pg# 73) The victim is not alone when it comes to being affected by the crime. Society is strongly affected by what a criminal does in whichever area he or she chooses. Retribution, in a good sense, would be if a coworker does her best as her job and her boss gave her a raise. This would be considered paying her back for her good deeds. As far as the criminal's heinous acts, retribution would more than likely be community service in the town were the crimes occurred. This form of sentencing gives a sort of relief to society

making them feel somewhat safer.

Additionally, just deserts are a form of sentencing. Just deserts is defined as a perspective on criminal sentencing that holds that criminal offenders are morally blameworthy and are, therefore, deserving of punishment. (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2009, pg# 73) Basically, the criminals go out and commit these crime and when they are caught they get what they deserve. There is a sense of gaining balance of ...

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... the outcomes of these goals the crime rate has substantially decreased. Revenge has made a way for some victims to at ease. I think revenge can be a good and bad thing. A negative view of revenge is if an offender kills or rapes someone's child and that person tries to find ways to get that offender killed. They all have some significant way of getting justice. According to the Sentencing Project prison cost has gone up and it is very expensive to find room in the prison for these offenders. Based on the overcrowded prison, they have to build new prisons which will take of money for the government.

References

1. Schmalleger, F., & Smykla, J. O. (2009) Corrections: In the 21st century. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Companies.

2. The Sentencing Project. (n.d). Retrieved: January 11, 2010. From the sentencing project website: http://www.sentencingproject.org/

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