ABSTRACT

Whatever the decision, sentencing day, a secular judgment day, is the culmination of all the factors and forces we have discussed in this book. Biological, psychological, and social influences brought the convicted person to this day. Police, prosecutor, and jury prevailed over the attempts of the defense attorney to save the defendant from this moment. Now begins the punishment phase of the criminal justice system. In this chapter, we examine the process of punishment, not only as a consequence of crime for the criminal, but as a factor in perpetuating crime in our society.