M4_A1 Criminal Justice Capstone
Assignment 1: Mandatory Guidelines Until the 1980s, judges generally had wide discretion in handing down sentences. The system’s shift toward punishment brought with it changes in sentencing procedures. State legislatures began adopting sentencing guidelines that legally limited the judges’ discretion. In the past, some judges imposed sentences that were too lenient. Therefore, sentencing guidelines were developed in an effort to bring uniformity and rationality […]