Including Assets-Based Mitigation in Sentencing
Mitigation evidence consists of information about an accused person that is typically used to advocate for a less severe sentence. Such evidence most frequently consists of information related to the crime and personal factors that can be separated into two broad categories: deficits and assets-base...
Autor principal: | |
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Tipo de documento: | Electrónico Artículo |
Lenguaje: | Inglés |
Publicado: |
2020
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En: |
Criminal justice policy review
Año: 2020, Volumen: 31, Número: 6, Páginas: 857-885 |
Acceso en línea: |
Volltext (Verlag) |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Verificar disponibilidad: | HBZ Gateway |
Palabras clave: |
Sumario: | Mitigation evidence consists of information about an accused person that is typically used to advocate for a less severe sentence. Such evidence most frequently consists of information related to the crime and personal factors that can be separated into two broad categories: deficits and assets-based mitigation. This article focuses on the importance of assets-based mitigation in sentencing and evaluates if and how state sentencing procedures contemplate and allow for consideration of such evidence. A content analysis of available state sentencing procedures reveals that states tend to circumscribe mitigation to factors related to the crime or deficits, but largely neglect to give a vehicle to consider assets-based mitigation, which should play a central role in achieving just outcomes. This article therefore argues for reform to sentencing laws to better accommodate assets-based mitigation by including information related to the defendant’s capacity for growth, self-improvement, and redemption. |
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ISSN: | 1552-3586 |
DOI: | 10.1177/0887403419866887 |