Question

A defendant was found guilty of murder. The legislature passed an act that stated if a person is found guilty of murder, they must serve at least 20 years in jail. The judge sentenced the defendant to 20 years, citing the law as his reasoning for the sentence. This is an example of what type of sentencing?

A) Structured sentencing
B) Indiscriminate sentencing
C) Equity sentencing
D) Restorative sentencing

Answer 1

The sentencing described where a judge is required to impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years for murder as dictated by a legislative act is an example of structured sentencing. This aims to maintain consistency and uniformity in punishment for similar crimes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario presented, where a judge sentences a defendant to a mandatory minimum jail time based on a legislative act, this is an example of structured sentencing. Structured sentencing refers to a system where the penalties for a given offense are fixed by statutes, which often provide a range or a mandatory minimum sentence that must be imposed for certain crimes.

The legislature's act requiring a minimum of 20 years for anyone found guilty of murder is a clear directive that the judge must adhere to, thus removing much of the discretion in sentencing and ensuring consistency and uniformity in the legal process. This is the embodiment of structured sentencing, which is intended to ensure that similar crimes are met with similar sentences, in line with stated legislative intent.