An Analysis of the US Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Philosophy, History, and Practicality
Abstract
The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, the U.S.
Sentencing Commission which grew out of it, and the Federal
sentencing guidelines which constitute the most drastic measure
of sentencing reform since parole was introduced in the 1920s,
each signal a change in both the goals of sentencing and the
perception of justice as it applies to criminal sanctions in the
United States. The understanding of all this is integral to the
continuing search for 'justice' in sentencing and for
implementation of sentencing reforms.
The goal of this project is to provide the reader with a
comprehensive understanding of the Federal sentencing guidelines.
This includes not only how they work in practice, but also the
philosophy behind them and its significance, the history of both
the guidelines themselves and sentencing reform, and foreseeable
problems that may arise out of this new direction in sentencing
policy. If you are not a current K College student, faculty, or staff member, email dspace@kzoo.edu to request access to this SIP.