Comments on: Geographical sentencing disparities http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:29:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: We don’t need no! Sentencing Guidelines! | a public defender http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/comment-page-1/#comment-43495 We don’t need no! Sentencing Guidelines! | a public defender Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:58:15 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/#comment-43495 [...] long time ago, I asked what the reasons for this might be. The most popular answer was volume. Smaller courthouses have [...] [...] long time ago, I asked what the reasons for this might be. The most popular answer was volume. Smaller courthouses have [...]

]]> By: rothmatisseko http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/comment-page-1/#comment-1222 rothmatisseko Wed, 16 May 2007 17:43:54 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/#comment-1222 I do see an equal protection argument. As I said at SL&P, "Geographic location of the sentencer and other non-legal considerations having nothing to do with the offense or the offender are arbitrary bases for sentencing disparity." I do see an equal protection argument. As I said at SL&P, “Geographic location of the sentencer and other non-legal considerations having nothing to do with the offense or the offender are arbitrary bases for sentencing disparity.”

]]> By: Miranda http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/comment-page-1/#comment-875 Miranda Thu, 03 May 2007 14:45:14 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/#comment-875 I suppose I also always thought it had to do with volume. Smaller jurisdictions have more time to concentrate on the prosecution of, say, a possession case, where in a larger jurisdiction, they're just not nearly as pressing as the several murder and assault cases pending. But it's interesting bringing morality into it. I hadn't thought about that aspect of it before... I suppose I also always thought it had to do with volume. Smaller jurisdictions have more time to concentrate on the prosecution of, say, a possession case, where in a larger jurisdiction, they’re just not nearly as pressing as the several murder and assault cases pending. But it’s interesting bringing morality into it. I hadn’t thought about that aspect of it before…

]]> By: Wobbs http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/comment-page-1/#comment-863 Wobbs Thu, 03 May 2007 03:55:03 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/#comment-863 It seems to me that when sentences are made more uniform, it tends to be uniformly upward. Be careful what you wish for. As far as guidelines being the only "real" solution, I think you are overlooking the keystone of all government operations: funding. If the county of a hanging judge had to pick up the tab for prisoners at the state level as well as those in the county jail, this would be a much more defendant friendly way of curbing sentence disparities. It seems to me that when sentences are made more uniform, it tends to be uniformly upward. Be careful what you wish for.
As far as guidelines being the only “real” solution, I think you are overlooking the keystone of all government operations: funding. If the county of a hanging judge had to pick up the tab for prisoners at the state level as well as those in the county jail, this would be a much more defendant friendly way of curbing sentence disparities.

]]> By: Gideon http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/comment-page-1/#comment-859 Gideon Thu, 03 May 2007 00:50:36 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/#comment-859 That definitely plays a large role. That's what we always joke about smaller jurisdictions - simple possession is just as bad as multiple murders. But that's a problem and it isn't right. Then again, the only "real" solution is some sort of sentencing guideline and we've seen how well that's worked. That definitely plays a large role. That’s what we always joke about smaller jurisdictions – simple possession is just as bad as multiple murders. But that’s a problem and it isn’t right.

Then again, the only “real” solution is some sort of sentencing guideline and we’ve seen how well that’s worked.

]]> By: womanofthelaw http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/comment-page-1/#comment-858 womanofthelaw Thu, 03 May 2007 00:22:30 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/05/02/geographical-sentencing-disparities/#comment-858 I think it has to do with volume. I think it has to do with volume.

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