Unit 20 Sentencing

The final phase of the criminal justice process begins with the sentence. Once found guilty, the defendant will be sentenced by the judge, or in some states, by the jury. The sentence is perhaps the most critical decision in the criminal justice system. This is because it can determine a defendant’s fate for years or, in some cases, for life.

Most criminal statutes set out a basic sentence structure, but judges generally have considerable freedom with respect to actual sentence, including the type, length, and conditions of the sentence. Depending upon the state, judges may choose from one or a combination of the following options:

• Suspended sentence. A sentence is given, but the convicted person is not required to serve it and is released with no conditions attached.

• Probation. The defendant is released to the supervision of a probation officer after agreeing to follow certain conditions, such as getting a job, avoiding drugs, or not traveling outside of the area.

• Fine. The defendant must pay an amount of money set by the court.

• Restitution. The defendant is required to pay back or make up for whatever loss or injury was incurred by the victim of the crime.

• Work release. The defendant is allowed to work in the community but is required to return to prison at night or on weekends.

• Imprisonment. The defendant is sentenced to a term in prison. Some states require that a definite sentence be given. In which case the judge would specify the exact number of years to be served (e.g., 2 years). Some states provide for an indeterminate term, in which case the sentence is not stated as a specific number of years but as a minimum and maximum term (e.g., not less than 3 years nor more than 10 years).

Many factors go into the sentencing decision. These include the judge’s theory of corrections and what he or she thinks is in the best interest of society and the individual. In addition, most states authorize a presentence report. This report is prepared by the probation department. It contains a description of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it. The report also sets out the defendant’s past criminal record, data on the defendant’s social, medical, educational, and employment background, and a recommendation as to sentence. After studying the report and listening to recommendations from the defense attorney and the prosecutor, the judge will impose sentence.

Recognition Vocabulary

nouns	verbs	adjectives
phase - фаза, стадия sentence - приговор fate - судьба statute - статут, законодательный акт option - выбор probation - условное освобождение supervision - надзор fine - штраф term - срок data - данные (pl.; sing. datum) background - зд. прошлое	determine - определять convict - осуждать release - освобождать suspend - приостанавливать, откладывать, проверять avoid - избегать incur - нести (ущерб) specify - уточнять authorize - санкционировать impose - наложить (наказание)	final - окончательный considerable - значительный actual - действительный exact - точный indeterminate - неопределенный
word-combinations to be sentenced by the judge - быть приговоренным судьей criminal justice system - система уголовного законодательства with respect to - относительно чего-либо, в отношении чего-либо to follow certain conditions - следовать определенным условиям to incur loss or injury - понести ущерб presentence report - доприговорный отчет past criminal record - судимость (-ти) data on - данные о