Law Library Articles
Top 10 Criminal Sentencing Articles
Leaving criminal sentencing up to vigilantes would only lead to a situation similar to the Reign of Terror in France, during which nearly 42,000 people were executed without proper trials. In order to avoid that scenario, courts follow a number of laws that monitor criminal sentencing. If you have recently been convicted, the criminal sentencing articles in this Top 10 list can help you make sure that you did not receive an unjust sentence.
1. First Offender Program Lawyers
Committing a single nonviolent crime does not instantly turn a person into a hardened criminal. Therefore, many states have chosen to rehabilitate first offenders through a first offender program instead of locking them away in prisons.
2. Restitution in Criminal Cases
If the Wet Bandits had robbed your home just like they had done to a number of people in the movie Home Alone, you would want them to financially compensate you. The courts allow you to get compensation in the form of restitution. You should read this article if you believe that you are entitled to restitution as the victim of a crime.
3. Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentence Lawyers
You do not need to call the Psychic Readers Network to find out what your sentence will be for an illegal drug conviction. The federal government has set up mandatory minimum drug sentences for illegal drugs that federal judges must follow. This article explains what these mandatory minimum drug sentences mean and why they exist.
4. 8th Amendment Limitations on Sentencing
There used to be some very gruesome forms of punishment that were viewed as perfectly acceptable to use on criminals, such as the rack and flaying. Luckily for modern prisoners, such cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited under the 8th Amendment. This article goes over how the 8th Amendment limits sentencing in modern America.
5. Parole and Probation Lawyers
The average person does not know the difference between parole and probation. Even media outlets do not know the difference, interchanging the terms when talking about Chris Brown’s probation violations or Amber Portwood being released on parole. You need to read this article if you want to know how to use the two terms properly.
6. Violation of Probation Lawyers
What do Paris Hilton, Chad Ochocinco, and Lindsay Lohan all have in common? They all served time in prison after violating the terms of their probation. If you are currently on probation, then you should read this article to make sure that you do not follow in their footsteps.
7. Record Sealing or Expungement
After you are convicted of a crime, you may worry that the conviction will always be a visible sign, like a scarlet letter. However, you may have a chance to get rid of that conviction from your permanent record through sealing or expungement. You should read this article if you are interested in erasing your conviction in one of these ways.
8. Misdemeanor Expungement Lawyers
If you have a misdemeanor conviction on your record, it does not have to remain on there. This article can tell you how to get a misdemeanor conviction expunged from your record.
9. Clemency
Even children know about clemency because the President of the United States annually grants clemency to a turkey on Thanksgiving to save it from being killed. Clemency is not limited only to turkeys or those facing an imminent death. To learn more about how you may apply for clemency of your conviction, you need to read this article.
10. Criminal Sentence Modification
Real life happens to criminals in ways that necessitate alterations in their sentences. For instance, Nicole Richie was permitted breaks during her probation to give birth to her kids. If your circumstances have significantly changed since you were convicted, you need to read this article to see if you can have your sentence modified to fit your needs.