proportionality in sentencing

Proportionality in sentencing refers to the principle that the punishment for a crime should be appropriately scaled to the severity of the offense and the harm caused. This means that more serious crimes should merit harsher penalties, while less serious offenses should receive lighter sentences. The goal is to ensure fairness and justice in the legal system, preventing excessively harsh or lenient punishments. Proportionality helps maintain public confidence in the law by ensuring that similar offenses receive similar consequences.