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Chapter 8: Criminal Sentencing and Incarceration

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    69557

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    Learning Objectives
    • Explain sentencing structures
    • Identify punishment philosophies
    • Describe incarceration systems
    • Evaluate alternatives to imprisonment
    Key Terms
    • Sentencing
    • Pre-Sentence Report
    • Determinate Sentencing
    • Indeterminate Sentencing
    • Retribution
    • Deterrence
    • Incapacitation
    • Rehabilitation
    • Incarceration
    • Jail
    • Prison
    • Community Corrections
    • Diversion
    • Intermediate Sanctions

    Summary

    This chapter examines how punishment is determined and implemented. It explores sentencing practices and philosophies such as deterrence and rehabilitation. The chapter also analyzes incarceration and alternatives like community corrections.

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Photo courtesy of Hart Powell

    Feeling safe and secure in person and at home is arguably one of the most discussed feelings in our nation today. The fear of crime influences how we think and act day to day and throughout our history. This has caused great fluctuation in the United States regarding how we punish people who are convicted of violating the law. Punishment is a penalty imposed on an individual convicted of a crime or law violation. This comes, in part, from the will of the people, which is then carried out through the legislative process and converted into sentencing practices. People have differing views, or ideologies, on why others should be punished and how much punishment they should receive. These correctional ideologies, or philosophical underpinnings of punishment, have been prevalent throughout the history of the United States, and they have been imposed by governments and societies worldwide since the beginning of humankind to uphold justice and impose punishment. But before we can talk about punishment, we are going to examine the factors that influence the decisions.

    This page titled Chapter 8: Criminal Sentencing and Incarceration was last modified on Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:44:22 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Antoniette Aizon.