Social And Economic Effect On Sentencing - 1919 Words

Class is defined as â€Å"the system of ordering a society in which people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status† (Oxford Dictionary). Most people commit crimes based on what their status in life is. If a person is poor, they are more likely to steal food, and other material possessions. If a person is rich, they are more likely to commit white-collar crimes, such as fraud. Variances in socioeconomic status, such as the disparities in the distribution of wealth, income, and access to resources, mitigate social problems. Lower socioeconomic status, and the things that are influenced by it such as low education levels, and poverty, affect many parts of our society (APA). All of these factors, have been shown to be more prevalent in prisons, and thus affect the prosecution phase of the judicial system. In this paper, I will analyze how class, both social and economic, has an effect on sentencing, and the trying of a person accused of a crime. â€Å"T en years of probation, and rehabilitation at a treatment site,† a synopsis of what 17-year-old Ethan Couch heard from his judge following a lengthy trial. But what did the family members of his victims hear? No jail time, no justice. On June 15, 2013, Ethan Couch, who was under the influence at the time, drove himself and seven of his friends, to a Walmart, stole two cases of beer, and sped until he hit and killed four people on the road. In Texas, the law for Intoxication Manslaughter is â€Å"no less than 2 years,Show MoreRelatedEffects of the Attractiveness and Socio Economic Status of a Defendant Influencing Jurys Decisions825 Words   |  3 PagesEffects of the Attractiveness and Socio Economic Status of a Defendant Influencing Jury’s Decisions Introduction In Society today, and individuals past experiences can alter their perception of in many ways. Many of these experiences can lead an individual to stereotypes that lead individuals from a culture that is known by society to be more dominant to mistreat members from a minority group. Our judgments are overflowed about gender, attractiveness, and socioeconomic on a daily basis. TheRead MoreMandatory Minimum Sentences For Violent Offenders1728 Words   |  7 Pagesincrease the level of risk in society if let free. 6. The sentencing policy should follow due process considerations, such as ensuring that offenders with similar situations are sentenced similarly, that reasonable notice is provided to the accused with reference to the crimes with which they have been charged, and that the decision implicating an accused in a lower court is subject to appeal before a higher court for review. 7. The sentencing policy must also be victim-oriented. Victims have largelyRead MoreCriminal Sentencing Essay1114 Words   |  5 Pagesdecades, but has been regulated by legislature since 1984. Discretion by definition is the authorization of deciding as one thinks fit, absolutely or within limits (Ntanda, 1999). Indeterminate sentencing, traditionally, has afforded judges considerable discretion over the resolve of criminal sentencing. â€Å"While such discretion theoretically allows judges to tailor sentences to the circumstances of individual crimes and criminals, thereby achieving a sort of ex post fairness, it also permits variationRead MoreThe Bias And Discretion Of The Sentencing Process1415 Words   |  6 Pagesnot surprised that racial biases exist within our court system when it comes down to sentencing. So, are we saying the judges are racist? This learner hopes not, but she cannot help but wonder if they are just based on the number of African American that is house d in our jails/prisons. There just seems to be an overwhelming amount of us incarcerated verses Caucasians. It is also amazing that some of the sentencing time that judges past down for the same type of criminal act (e.g., burglary, auto theftRead MoreThe Prisoners Wife: Incarcerated Parents1152 Words   |  5 Pagesbefore, during and after their parent incarceration( Johnston 1995).The social consequences of not meeting the need of these children and their non incarcerated parent will come to the attention of social workers in array of fields of practice. This includes child welfare, mental health and child development, crimminal justice , schools and the juvenile justice system. Included in this paper is current litature on the social problem associated with rising numbers of incarcerated parents. InformationRead MoreCrime Prevention : The Primary Responsibility Of State Governments1173 Words   |  5 Pagesmulti-layered crime strategies and initiatives which keeps communities safe. The role of local governments in crime prevention uses â€Å"a comprehensive approach based on a detailed analysis of factors influencing crime and victimisation, including social, economic, environmental and institutional considerations† (1). By engaging key stake holders at the local level and acknowledging the important of clear and consistent local leadership, governments are able to implement the rules and legislation to maximiseRead More U.S. Drug Policy Versus Drug Reality Essay1334 Words   |  6 Pagesthe early 1980s, the focus of anti-drug legislation has been on incarceration and eradication, not on drug education and treatment. Drug use is viewed as a crime the same way that burglary and murder are viewed as crimeswithout examining the social and economic causes behind drug use. This categorization of drug use as criminal misrepresents the nature of addiction. Drug addicts do not abuse drugs because they are deviant or even because they consciously desire to cause harm to themselves or to thoseRead MoreMandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws For Drug Offences1089 Words   |  5 Pagesconsequences today, the most notable being mandatory minimum sentencing laws for drug offences. This issue has been extensively researched by Kieran Riley with an article in the Boston University Law Journal titled â€Å"Trial by Legislature: Why Statutory Mandatory Minimum Sentences Violate the Separation of Powers Doctrine†, Paul Cassell and Erik Luna with a peer-reviewed scholarly article titled â€Å"Sense and Sensibility in Mandatory Minimum Sentencing†, and the Families Against Mandatory Minimums organizationRead MoreThe Mandatory Minimum Se ntencing Laws1347 Words   |  6 PagesThe establishment of mandatory minimum sentencing laws has been a policy blunder since their proliferation in the 1980s. Mandatory minimum laws are negatively affecting the U.S, economically and socially. These laws effectively strip judges of their ability to adjudicate a fair punishment by setting a minimum sentence and handing their discretion over to prosecutors. A number of individuals and their families have been negatively affected by mandatory minimum penalties, however, there are othersRead MorePunishment vs Rehabilitation1661 Words   |  7 Pagesto promote the safety of the public, and to protect individuals from the victimization of crime Others argue that rehabilitation is a more permanent fix in deterring crime. Rehabilitation through community supervision can have a more lasting effect on individuals and deter them from committing future crime if they learn how to adapt in society by gaining academic or trade skills. These programs can help offenders find employment and secure an important role in the community and give them a sense