Sentencing Guidelines
Sentencing guidelines are a set of rules used by judges to determine appropriate punishments for criminal offenses. They consider factors like the severity of the crime and the defendant’s criminal history. The guidelines help ensure consistency and fairness in sentencing across different cases. While judges have discretion, they often refer to these guidelines to promote transparency and limit extreme variations in sentences for similar offenses, aiming to balance justice for victims and rehabilitation for offenders.
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Sentencing guidelines are a set of rules and criteria that judges use to determine appropriate punishment for crimes. They help ensure consistency and fairness in sentencing by providing a framework based on the severity of the offense and the offender's criminal history. These guidelines can recommend specific sentences, such as imprisonment length or fines, but judges still have discretion to account for unique circumstances of each case. The goal is to balance justice, deterrence, rehabilitation, and public safety while minimizing disparities in how similar crimes are punished.