The judges usually use some guidelines in sentencing the criminal in court. This ensures that similar standards are followed by each judge to ensure fairness in sentencing. This research paper will evaluate the variables that the judges consider when issuing a sentence to the criminals.
History record of the criminal is an important variable that the judges consider in making their decisions. If the records show that the person has been involved in other crimes in earlier times, then the severity of the judgment may be higher (Hartman, 186). On the other hand, id the criminal record of an individual shows that an individual has not been involved in criminal record, and then the sentence may be less severe.
The severity of the action by the criminal is taken into consideration when deciding on the sentence. Different crimes cannot be given the same sentence (Klip, 123). Therefore more severe is the crime, the greater the punishment that the courts are likely to issue.
The age of the offenders also influence the charge imposed on a criminal. Adolescent offenders may receive less punishment as compared to youths. This is because the adolescents have the chances of changing their behaviors as compared to the youths who are aware of their intentions in their activities.
The number of dependants that an individual has influences the sentence that he/she receives. Individuals with fewer dependants receive greater sentences since their absence from the society reduces the problems that the society faces (Klip, 128). On the other hand, those with more dependants may receive severe sentences since their absence may create greater risks and problems to the society.
Educational level also influences the sentence level on an individual. People who are educated have the potential of adjusting their behavior since they can be able to engage on other productive activities (Henham, 98). On the other hand, people who are not educated are likely to continue committing crimes for their survival and this is why they receive more severe sentences.
I think the most important variable that should be considered is the criminal record of an individual. This is because if an individual has indulged in criminal activities several times means that such an individual is not willing to change and hence the only option to reduce the risks of damages to the community is a severe sentence.
The least variable that I think should be considered in sentences is the educational level of an individual. I think that educated individuals should not receive a favor in sentences. This is because as far as they have decided to engage in criminal activities, they are criminals like any other person and hence should be treated equally for fairness in the society.
I think the gender of an individual should be considered in judgments. The women should receive less severe sentences. This is due to the fact that they regarded as weak hence their ability to engage in severe criminal activities is low. In addition, they have many roles that they are required to perform to the society and hence less severe sentences are reasonable.
Works cited.
Klip, André, and Göran Sluiter. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia: 2001. Antwerp [u.a.: Intersentia, 2005. Print
Henham, Ralph J. Punishment and Process in International Criminal Trials. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate, 2005. Print.
Hartman, Gary R, Roy M. Mersky, and Cindy L. Tate. Landmark Supreme Court Cases: The Most Influential Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States. New York: Facts on File, 2004. Internet resource.
