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Article: Sentencing
- Article from:
- West's Encyclopedia of American Law
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SENTENCING
The post-conviction stage of the criminal justice process, in which the defendant is brought before the court for the imposition of a penalty.
If a defendant is convicted in a criminal prosecution, the event that follows the verdict is called sentencing. A sentence is the penalty ordered by the court. Generally, the primary goals of sentencing are punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation. In some states, juries may be entitled to pronounce sentence, but in most states, and in federal court, sentencing is performed by a judge.
For serious crimes, sentencing is usually pronounced at a sentencing hearing, where the prosecutor and the defendant present their ...