Sentencing Advocacy

Sentencing advocacy is the process where lawyers present arguments and evidence to influence a judge's decision regarding the punishment for a convicted individual. It typically occurs after a trial or guilty plea, where the defense attorney seeks to argue for a lighter sentence by highlighting mitigating factors, such as a defendant's background, character, or circumstances surrounding the crime. The goal is to persuade the judge to impose a more lenient sentence than what might be expected, taking into account the whole person and their situation rather than just the offense committed.