This paper illustrates in detail on the issues of mandatory sentencing as an aspect that is not deterrent to some crimes. It is general practice in many States, in United Sates of America that the panel of adjudicators is limited to passing some degree of sentences to individuals liable of crimes (Ohio Parole Board Handbook, 2012). As a result, there is a lighthearted push to bring about changes in crime laws so that special category offenders’ rights are a consideration. The idea is that given the “special” tag” these individual are qualified for parole meaning they do not have to serve their mandatory sentence, hence the question whether mandatory sentencing is or is not a deterrent for other crimes. My take on the issue would be that mandatory sentencing is not a deterrent for other crimes because if the culprits qualify for parole then they can still commit crimes while serving parole period (National Institute of Justice, 2005).
It is essential to acknowledge that mandatory sentencing does not deter most crimes as the kinds of treatment criminals receive from the State affect their subsequent conduct. Moreover, mandatory sentencing is not a deterrent for other crimes because it tends to target crime in two ways (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2013). It goes to the extent of removing chances from criminals by locking them up, and it deters them via threats of jail time and higher penalties. Mandatory sentencing is not restrained for certain crimes as some of the crimes can be avoided with well organized programs that can be used avoid more crimes (Bridges, 2009). In essence, this entails that small crimes don’t need to be submitted to mandatory sentencing based on the fact that outside programs can be used to teach them on the importance of evading criminal acts (O’Connor, 2014).
References
Bridges. (2009) HMCI Probation. Retrieved, http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/about/hmiprob/challenges-facing-prob-jul-09.pdf
National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Retrieve, https://www.ncjrs.gov/
Federal Bureau of Prisons (2013).Compassionate Release Program. Review of I-2013-006
National Institute of Justice (2005) Stress among Probation and Parole Officers and What Can Be Done about It, from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/205620.pdf
Ohio Parole Board Handbook (2012). Retrieved, http://www.drc.ohio.gov/web/paroleboardhandbook.pdf
O’Connor, E. (2014). Criminal justice. Retrieved, https://delicious.com/#RCLS/criminaljustice
