SOC219H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Street Justice, Homicide
Document Summary
Didn"t have codified sentences; no explicit instructions, we have maximums but rarely used. Very few mandatory minimums = discretion; additions over past year. How judges come about sentences = common law. Judge made culture; one of restraint, limiting imposing sentences = chose shorter, evoking the law. Stability in incarceration rate (vs. the us) = suggests that historically (in canada) skeptical of imprisonment. Now a political hot topic (past decide) = party wants to look soft on crime. Public"s general consensus, sentences aren"t harsh enough, too lenient, influences changes in sentencing. Reports arguing, we must restrict when to use law and how to impose it = do not want to rely on imprisonment(doesn"t work) What alternatives can we use in place of the law? (consider before imposing law) Preference for least restrictive punishment; reserve maximum for more severe offences. E and f are the most recent additions = explicitly deal with victims + community.
