Building Up Your Knowledge

Sentencing Option

Legislatures establish the types of sentences that can be imposed (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2007: 83). Congress and the 50 state legislatures decide what is against the law and define crimes and their punishments for their jurisdictions (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2007: 83). Remember that for a behavior, action or inaction to be considered a 'crime,' it must be defined as such by statute. Crime is a social construction, therefore the representatives of the people must codify all proscribed social behaviors. A given criminal offense also carries a corresponding and commensurate sentence. Sentencing options include:

• Fines and other monetary sanctions
• Probation
• Alternative or intermediate sanctions (day fines, community service, electronic monitoring, and day reporting centers)
• Incarceration
• Death

We'll look into those sentencing options in terms of its types, and its model. Also, we will discuss "three-strikes laws."

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