Sentencing without guidelines / Rhys Hester.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hester, Rhys, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sentences (Criminal procedure)--South Carolina.

Sentences (Criminal procedure).

Punishment--South Carolina.

Punishment.

Criminal justice, Administration of--South Carolina.

Criminal justice, Administration of.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (184 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Temple University Press, [2024]

Summary:

Sentencing matters. Reform initiatives hope to impart more uniformity and fairness in sentencing. Tough-on-crime laws like "three strikes" and mandatory minimum provisions deprive judges of sentencing discretion. While sentencing guidelines have been adopted by approximately 20 states since the early 1980s, many judges operate without guidelines. Sentencing without Guidelines is Rhys Hester's deep dive into how South Carolina, which never passed sentencing guideline legislation, nonetheless created meaningful punishment reform. It achieved uniformity in sentencing with a traveling circuit of judges, informal norms among judges, and the unique phenomenon of the "Plea Judge" to manage cases.Hester examines how prior convictions, race, and geographical differences impact sentences to explain why individuals get the criminal sentences they do. He also explores how legal reform mechanisms can influence punishment goals and policy. Sentencing without Guidelines shows the benefits and drawbacks South Carolina experienced as it met sentencing reform goals. These lessons can be translated into policy for other jurisdictions.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

2. A Brief History of Sentencing Reform

3. Sentencing without Guidelines

4. Judicial Rotation as Centripetal Force

5. Judging Prior Record

6. The Conundrum of Punishment Reform: Tension between Uniformity and Discretion

7. Conclusion: Implications and Future Directions

Methodological Appendix: Data, Methodologies, and Analytic Strategies

Notes

References

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781439923566

1439923566

OCLC:

1431979814