Blameworthiness
The amount of blame the offender deserves for the crime. (p.49)
Determinate sentence
A period of incarceration with minimum and maximum terms stipulated so that parole eligibility depends on the time necessary for treatment; closely associated with the concept of rehabilitation. (p.44)
Enlightenment (Age of Reason)
The 1700s in Europe, when concepts of liberalism, rationality, equality, and individualism dominated social and political thinking. (p.34)
General deterrence
Punishment of criminals that is intended to be an example to the general public and to discourage crime by others. (p.38)
Good time
A reduction of an inmate's prison sentence, at the discretion of the prison administrator for good behavior or for participation in vocational, educational and treatment programs. (p. 45)
Incapacitation
Depriving an offender of the ability to commit crimes, usually by detaining the offender in prison. (p.38)
Indeterminate sentence
A period of incarceration with minimum and maximum terms stipulated so that parole eligibility depends in the time necessary for treatment; closely associated with the concept of rehabilitation. (p.43)
Intermediate sanctions
Punishments that are more restrictive than traditional probation but less severe and costly than incarceration. (p.45)
Lex talionis
Law of retaliation; the principle that punishment should correspond in degree and kind to the offense (an eye for an eye). (p.33)
Mandatory sentence
A sentence stipulating that some minimum period of incarceration must be served by people convicted of selected crimes regardless of background or circumstances. (p. 44)
Presentence report
Report prepared by a probation officer, who investigates a convicted offender's background to help the judge select an appropriate sentence. (p. 50)
Presumptive sentence
A sentence for which the legislature or a commission sets a minimum and maximum range of months or years. Judges are to fix the length of the sentence within that range allowing for special circumstances. (p. 44)
Probation
A sentence allowing the offender to serve the sanctions imposed by the court while living in the community under supervision. (p. 46)
Rehabilitation
The goal of restoring the convicted offender to a constructive place in society through vocational training educational services, and/or therapy. (p. 39)
Restoration
Punishment designed to repair the damage done to the victim and community by an offender's criminal act. (p. 40)
Retribution
Punishment inflicted on a person who has infringed the rights of others and so deserves to be penalized. The severity of the sanction should fit the seriousness of the crime. (p. 37)
Selective incapacitation
Making the best use of expensive and limited prison space by targeting for incarceration those offenders whose incapacity will do the most to reduce crime in society. (p. 39)
Sentencing disparity
Divergence in the length and types of sentences imposed for the same crime or for crimes of comparable seriousness when no reasonable justification can be discerned. (p. 52)
Sentencing guidelines
An instrument developed for judges indicating the usual sanctions given previously to particular offenses. (p. 50)
Specific deterrence
Punishment inflicted on criminals to discourage them from committing future crimes. (p. 38)
Utilitarianism
The doctrine that the aim of all action should be the greatest possible balance of pleasure over pain hence the belief that a punishment inflicted on an offender must achieve enough good to outweigh the pain inflicted. (p.36)
Wrongful conviction
Occurs when an innocent person is found guilty by either plea or verdict (p.53)