1. List and define three of the five goals of criminal sentencing. Which of these goals do you believe is the most effective in dealing with defendants? Provide support for your opinion.
2. Explain the concept of restorative justice and describe its focus, purpose, and goals. Compare and contrast retributive and restorative justice. List and explain at least four differences between the two forms of justice.
3. Explain aggravating and mitigating circumstances and when they are used. List and describe at least three aggravating and three mitigating circumstances.
4. Describe the presentence investigation process. Explain who orders the investigation and why, and who conducts the investigation. Identify the different forms that may be used for a presentence report. Answers should be specific and use examples.
5. What are alternative sanctions? Give some examples of alternative sanctions and offer an
assessement of how effective they might be.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Aggravating circumstances
2. Alternative sentencing
3. Capital offense
4. Capital punishment
5. Determinate sentence
6. Deterrence
7. Diversion
8. Equity
9. Gain time
10. General deterrence
11. Good time
12. Incapacitation
13. Indeterminate sentencing
14. Just deserts
15. Justice reinvestment
16. Mandatory sentencing
17. Mitigating circumstances
18. Presentence investigation
19. Presumptive sentencing
20. Proportionality
21. Recidivism
22. Recidivism rates
23. Rehabilitation
24. Restoration
25. Restorative justice (RJ)
26. Retribution
27. Sentencing
28. Social debt
29. Specific deterrence
30. Structured sentencing
31. Truth-in-sentencing
32. Victim-Impact statement
33. Voluntary/advisory sentencing guidelines
34. Writ of habeas corpus