Module 3 DQ – Sentencing Decisions in Practice

Sentencing is one of the most important decision points in the criminal justice system. Once an offender is convicted, the court must determine the appropriate correctional response. These decisions influence whether an offender will be supervised in the community, detained in jail, or incarcerated in a correctional facility. Judges consider a variety of factors when determining a sentence, including the seriousness of the offense, the offenders criminal history, the impact on victims, and the broader goals of punishment. Sentencing decisions are also shaped by legal guidelines, public expectations, and correctional policy. Because of this, different people may reasonably disagree about what the most appropriate sentence should be in a particular case. In this discussion, you will step into the role of a sentencing judge and evaluate how different factors influence correctional decisions.

Prepare for this discussion by reviewing and completing the embedded activities in:

Part I – Your Initial Post:

Your original response is due by Thursday of the module at 11:59 p.m.

• • Your original response should be at least 250 words.
  • Select one of the sentencing scenarios below.
  • You must support your response with at least one source from the course materials, using an APA-formatted in-text citation(s) and a reference section in APA format. (Hint: you can cite your textbook.)

For this discussion, you will select one of the four positions below.

Scenario 1: Repeat Property Offender

A 34 year old defendant has been convicted of burglary for the third time in six years. In the most recent case, the offender broke into a home while the residents were away and stole electronics and jewelry. No one was physically harmed, but the victims reported feeling unsafe returning to their home.

In your response:

Part II – Peer Response Criteria:

You must respond to at least two peers by Sunday of the Module by 11:59 p.m.

• Peer responses should be to peers who selected other initial prompts than the one you chose.
• Peer responses should be at least 150 words.
• Structured Peer Responses Should:
  • Identify one factor that influenced their sentencing decision.
  • Explain whether you agree or disagree with their reasoning.
• All references should be cited and listed in a reference section in APA format.
• You are expected to participate on a minimum of two days each module.

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