Exam 9: Punishment and Sentencing

What is the primary factor in a judge's sentencing decision?

Which is the dominant method of execution in the United States today?

According to the bifurcated process in capital cases, the decision to sentence a defendant to death must be made by:

Which landmark case effectively ended the execution of those who committed crimes as juveniles?

Truth-in-sentencing laws require defendants to serve 100% of their sentences.

Define and illustrate indeterminate sentencing, determinate sentencing and truth-in-sentencing laws as structures of sentencing.

Which of the following sentencing philosophies is viewed as the most humane?

Mitigating circumstances may include:

When two criminals receive different sentences for the same offense, this is known as sentencing discrimination.

Statutes that require lengthy prison sentences for those who have been convicted of multiple felonies are _____________________.

What is the oldest and most common justification for punishment?

According to death penalty advocates, which of the four justifications for punishment is the only one NOT met through capital punishment?

Describe the main issues of the death penalty debate.

The oldest and most common justification for punishing someone is incapacitation.

A prior record is an example of a(n) ___________________ circumstance.

Judges who make decisions based on ____ are often seen as undermining the plea-bargaining process.

Identify and describe the six forms of punishment.

____________________ assumes that an individual, after being punished for a certain act, will be less likely to repeat that act.

What single factor is widely believed to contribute the most to the criminal justice system's fallibility?

"Good time" is a reduction in time served by prisoners based on good behavior, conformity to rules, and other positive actions.