Judicial discretion in sentencing

Judicial discretion in sentencing refers to the ability of a judge to make decisions based on their judgment and interpretation of the law, rather than being strictly bound by mandatory sentencing guidelines. This means that judges can consider the specifics of each case, such as the nature of the crime, the defendant's background, and other contextual factors, to determine an appropriate sentence. While discretion allows for more tailored and fair outcomes, it also raises concerns about consistency and potential bias in how different cases are handled by different judges.