The Benefits Of Indeterminate Sentencing

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Sentencing Throughout history there have been different degrees of correctional goals, but the one goal that has prevailed throughout history is punishment. Punishment is the formal penalty for committing an act that violates the law. Punishment should be certain, quick, and appear to be more severe than the crime itself. Andrew Von Hirsch (1976), one of the leading writers on punishment states “the sanctioning authority is entitled to choose a response that expresses moral disapproval: namely punishment” (p. 49). Many individuals who choose to commit crimes are rational individuals; they choose to commit crimes. Some criminal offenders carefully calculate their crimes in an attempt to avoid persecution and punishment. When they are caught…show more content…
The main goals for indeterminate sentencing are the prevention of new crimes, rehabilitation, and to protect the criminals from excessive, unequal, or random punishments. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (1999), Indeterminate sentencing allows corrections managers to deal with problems of overcrowding or with changes in resource allocation by adjusting policies governing award of good time, setting of parole release dates, or releasing offenders on furloughs or to intermittent or partial confinement (p. 5). It is my opinion that indeterminate sentencing has the potential to change lawbreakers into law-abiding…show more content…
The United States views incarceration as punishment appropriate for criminal behavior since adopting a humanistic or non violent approach to punishment. The treatment, punishment, and sentencing of criminals have evolved over the years. Retribution is no longer considered the most important goal of punishment. In the past two decades the efforts in rehabilitation, deterrence, and restoration have come a long way. However, decisions regarding sentencing need to correspond with the goals of punishment to meet the common objective. Without an agreement between law and corrections, productivity and effectiveness cannot succeed. References Law Reform Commission. (2003). Report 102 – Sentencing: Corporate Offenders. Retrieved from: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lrc.nsf/pages/r102chp03 Packer, H. L. (1968). The Limits of the Criminal Sanction . Stanford, : Stanford University Press. Seiter, R. P. (2011). Corrections: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Retrieved from The university of Phoenix eBook Collection database. U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs. (1999, September). Sentencing & Corrections Issues for the 21st Century,(2), . Retrieved from
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