Discretionary Sentencing

Discretionary sentencing refers to a judge's ability to decide the appropriate punishment for a convicted individual based on the specifics of the case rather than adhering strictly to predetermined guidelines. This flexibility allows judges to consider factors such as the severity of the crime, the defendant’s past behavior, and circumstances surrounding the offense. While it can lead to more personalized sentences, it may also result in variations in how similar cases are sentenced across different courts, as individual judges may have different perspectives on what constitutes a fair punishment.