Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Mandatory Sentencing
October 6th, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Dobson
The U.S. Supreme Court this week heard arguments on whether judges should have more say in sentencing offenders, and seemed to be leaning toward broadening judicial discretion, the Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 3.
Critics say mandatory sentencing guidelines rob jurists of the power to alter sentencing based on the facts of individual cases, often result in overly harsh punishment, and have helped fill prisons with low-level drug offenders. But the U.S. Justice Department wants the mandatory minimums maintained, with Deputy Solicitor General Michael R. Dreeben arguing that the alternative would be widely varying sentences for identical crimes.
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Tags: Supreme, Court, Hears, Arguments, Mandatory, Sentencing