what is alternative sentencing and who meets the criteria?
81657
Alternative sentencing is exercised by some judges who feel jail would not be appropriate and reform may occur other ways.  There is no criteria, but it has to be legal in the jurisdiction for the judge to do it.\nAn example would be a person convicted of DWI, instead of serving jail time, would be sentenced to do a certain number of hours of community service talking to teens about their DWI.
416534
The legal system is fraught with inequities. Punishments never seem to fit the crime. I think I have come up with a somewhat novel approach.\nI suggest we take a "one size fits all" approach to crime and punishment.\nWe will determine guilt or innocence in open court.\nInnocent men will go free\n(for the most part, hopefully).\nJustice will be served.\n\nhere's the good part.\n\nAnyone who is determined guilty in open court of any offense:drunk driving, reckless endangerment, shoplifting, jaywalking, public nudity, obscenity etc. and so on \nad nauseum.\nWill face the one penalty allowed under law.\n\nThe penalty for all crimes will be death.It does not matter what the crime is. If you are guilty of it you forfeit your life.\n\nNow who is going to be able to call that unfair.
1131659
The correct answer is the Bill of Rights.\n\nThe cruel and unusual punishment is in the 8th Amendment, the others are in the 5th.
978301
Death penalty laws are social engineering. I cannot subscribe to the ethics of social engineering. As a nurse who has worked in the system with pedophiles, I know also that episodic imprisonment is ineffective. They are relentless. I support the only known ethical solution which is chemical castration.  But, then again, I believe in that for Conservatives, too.
985869
What alternate justice system would you recommend? Or is this a statement against the death penalty? If so, why don't you just say so.\n\nWould it be better to let a guilty person that had raped and murdered you daughter/wife/mother go free?
677152
That's a good idea, actually- but I don't know what the sentence should be...\n\nMaybe three years mandatory in prison (minimum!)- without the possibility of getting out early. But if the crime is premeditated and cruel, then the sentence should be more severe.
696235
Three different steps. First, the plea. This determines whether a trial is necessary. Second, the conviction. This occurs either as a result of pleading guilty, or if convicted of the crime.\n\nThe third step is sentencing. Many prosecutors are willing to accept a guilty plea, often to a lesser sentence, to save the time and cost of having the trial. In such plea bargains, one part of the bargain is often the sentence that will be served. But that sentence agreement is made with the prosecutor, not the court.\n\nSometimes, even a guilty plea will not allow for a plea bargain, and the case will proceed directly to sentencing. If there is not a plea bargain, and there is convication at trial, then sentencing is still the final step. \n\nIn the end, the sentence is based on what the laws of the state mandate for whatever the particular crime is. In many states, judges often have very little say in what the sentence will be, based on the conviction. It's all determined by the state laws. \n\nSometimes there is some descretion for the judge, but never in a capitol (death penalty) case. In such situations, unless there is an agreement as to sentencing with the prosecution, the determination of death or not is made by the jury, not by the judge.
890413
it all depends on the crime really and the institution were a person is being held
1074425
I think one of the biggest mistakes we can make when writing laws is to assume that there is a one-size-fits-all answer for everything. Judges need elbow room to allow for variations…. the human factor.\n\nOn the flip side of this coin, people need to understand exactly what is and is not allowed and why. They have very little tolerance for laws that punish one person harshly for the same crime committed by another who gets a slap on the wrist.\n\nIn the end, what is best for those who are the subjects of the law? I would think we should err on the side of flexibility and give judges the lateral room they need to fix the punishment not just to the act, but also to the violator.\n\nSo… to answer your question… how subjective? I would give the weight of discretion, tipped to favor the judges and not to mandatory sentencing codes favored by obtuse politicians in marbled halls.
746647
I am in law enforcement in Maine. The punishment depends on a number of things, including the discretion of the court, your criminal history and the nature of the crime. I encourage you to call the (non-emergency line of) your local police department and you can ask anonymously what sentence that statute holds. I will tell you that officers HATE to take these calls, because there is such a variance from crime to crime and person to person, so you won't get a specific answer, only a possibility.
1057486
A justice system that works accountable to the people, instead of the current system that seems totally out of touch with what we percieve as appropriate punishment for crimes.
378558
Are you saying implement this program for every prisoner?  If you are, I'm sure there are a lot of prisoners that would love this idea, like the ones serving life.\n\nI guess there would need to be a committee that would decide who qualifies and who doesn't or prisoners would try to make a break for it.  Every state would need a committee, and they would have to pay, so that would mean more money coming out of state taxes, because no one works for free.  So I don't think this would be a cheaper way to punish criminals.
103381
of course not. they have a hard enough time with the current system of punishment.\n\nand do you really want someone else deciding what you get merits and demerits for? if so, look into Christianity, particular Catholicism
453075
Not killing but justice. (punishment) Not just for any one but the lawful government can put someone to death who deserves it for crimes committed like murder.
37670
it depends on what city or country your living in ..\nin singapore for example,theyre very harsh but it works for them\nevery offense has an equivalent punishment.. some would say barbaric punishment.. they say it makes the people aware that their government is serious when it comes to crime...
362624
Each state has its own set of sentencing guidelines.\n\nAs to the other apart of your statement, the charge would stick, as long as the person lives...additional charges would be filed if should they die as a result of the action. And NO, the judge isn't going to lenient because you're a lousy shot!
877426
Althugh parole scarcely exists in many systems these days, this takes care of the matter if it is brought back.\n\nMany, many criminals will die in prison these days. I have no problem with that; except that for those sentenced in the 1960s-1980s when the judge took account of the fact that most prisoners were released after serving half their sentence, there is some unfairness. Like the teenagers sentenced to "llfe" when life meant 20 years. Only now it means life, retroactively.