ABSTRACT
Criminal sentences may involve the imposition of fines, community supervision, or incarceration. Traditionally, four purposes or justifications for criminal penalties have been advanced: deterrence, incapacitation, treatment, and just deserts. Substantial differences exist among the states regarding how they go about the sentencing of criminals. Criminal sentencing has been the topic of a great deal of interest and debate. The chapter depicts sentencing structures found across the United States. Criminal sentencing is the final decision point in the court segment of the criminal justice system. Many states have statutory provisions for sentencing hearings. Parole eligibility defines which types of inmates the parole board can release at what points in their sentence. The chapter examines the core issues that allow to us understand better the complex problems of criminal sentencing. Corporal and capital punishment have reemerged as issues in sentencing. The challenge for sentencing is to achieve crime control goals while respecting the rights of the individual offender.
