6: Sentencing
Learning Objectives
In this section, you will be introduced to policy in the criminal justice system. Policies that can be examined include issues related to juvenile justice, drug legislation, intimate partner violence, prison overcrowding, school safety, new federal immigration laws, terrorism, and national security. After reading this section, students will be able to:
- Differentiate between the five sentencing philosophies in the American criminal justice system.
- Compare and contrast indeterminate and determinate sentencing.
- Explain sentencing guidelines, mandatory minimums, and sentencing enhancements.
- Explain the various types of punishments used in the American criminal justice system.
Critical Thinking Questions
- What are the five sentencing philosophies and what is the main reason each gives for punishing criminals?
- What are the different types of sentences judges can give a criminal?
- What are mandatory minimum and sentencing enhancements and why might they be good or bad for criminals?
- What types of physical punishments are allowed today in the United States? Do you agree with the availability of these punishments?
- What types of other punishments are available today?
Background Knowledge Probe:
Each chapter will begin by assessing your current knowledge about different criminal justice topics. Each of these topics will be covered by the chapter – meaning that you should be able to answer them correctly after you have completed the reading. All definitions can be seen by clicking on the bolded vocabulary terms in each chapter.
Please drag and drop the correct answer in the blank space provided. This is an ungraded exercise, but you may want to record which questions you answer incorrectly, so that you can verify that your knowledge has improved by the end of the chapter.
