A little bit of a sentencing "glitch" in a terrorism case, but, with the assistance of the Second Circuit, we should get an appropriate sentence

[Safiel]

On a side, it will be interesting to see if the United States Supreme Court will reconsider its decision in United States v Booker.

United States v. Booker

[Safiel]

@WuWei

@Safiel

@WuWei

@LucyLou

Sentencing guidelines don’t operate on a sliding scale.

The judge gave him a sentence. Why are “sentencing guidelines” necessary? We don’t trust our judges?

Sentencing guidelines are meant to provide consistency. For example, two defendants are convicted of the same crime of forcible rape with similar circumstances by two different courts.

Without sentencing guidelines, one court could conceivably given the statutory minimum of 15 years, while the other might give the statutory maximum of life.

Sentencing guidelines are meant to minimize such disparities.

So we don’t trust judges. Got it.

No.

JUDGES write the sentencing guidelines. Sentencing guidelines are essentially Judges, working as a group, advising their fellow Judges.

[WuWei]

@Safiel

@WuWei

@Safiel

@WuWei

@LucyLou

Sentencing guidelines don’t operate on a sliding scale.

The judge gave him a sentence. Why are “sentencing guidelines” necessary? We don’t trust our judges?

Sentencing guidelines are meant to provide consistency. For example, two defendants are convicted of the same crime of forcible rape with similar circumstances by two different courts.

Without sentencing guidelines, one court could conceivably given the statutory minimum of 15 years, while the other might give the statutory maximum of life.

Sentencing guidelines are meant to minimize such disparities.

So we don’t trust judges. Got it.

No.

JUDGES write the sentencing guidelines. Sentencing guidelines are essentially Judges, working as a group, advising their fellow Judges.

Who they don’t trust.

This kid was a teenager at the time of his crimes. It has taken them 4 years to get to this point.

[Paul_Thomson]

@WuWei

What purpose does it serve? What does it achieve? This locking a young man up for half a century?

It keeps the rest of society somewhat safer without having to deal with more of his criminal behaviour and it’s fruit. With appropriate prison reforms, he could get healthy educational, work and socialisation opportunities in an environment insulated from the wider community.