Sentencing Reform Act of 1984
Q1
The SRA of 1984 represented the sentencing law and practice of the United States. The purpose of the Act describes the congressional purposes of sentencing. The Act establishes the practices by the Federal criminal justice and the sentencing policies. It also aimed at providing certainty and fairness for the purposes of sentencing, advancement of human behavior as well as avoiding disparities in sentencing amongst defendants with similar acts of crime (United States Sentencing Commission, 2006).
Q2
Before SRA judges had the discretion of tailoring sentences to the defendants in order to give the offender a chance to rehabilitate. With a lot of scrutiny in the rehabilitation programs, just desserts were brought up meaning that people should get what they deserve. With the SRA in 1984, the sentencing guidelines ensured that harmony was created to similar crimes rather than tailoring them for the purposes of the rehabilitation programs. This drove away from the notion that prison is a channel of criminal rehabilitation (United States Sentencing Commission, 2006).
Q3
The USSC is an independent commission formed to by the SRA. It was formed to create criminal sentencing policies and guidelines which can provide fairness and certainty in sentencing. The set guidelines define sentences that the judges use and enable them to sentence criminals fairly for similar crimes committed. It was a measure meant to eliminate unfairness and unwarranted disparities in sentencing for defendants who were found guilty (United States Sentencing Commission, 2006).
Q4
There are many numerous roles that a forensic psychologist can play in sentencing. There are psychological assessment and evaluation that assists the prosecution and the defense in criminal cases. A forensic psychologist can also act an expert witness, evaluate the competency to stand trial as well as risk and violence assessment. These roles can affect sentencing due to the evaluation carried out and the expertise exercised in the most reasonable sentence for the defendant (United States Sentencing Commission, 2006).
Reference
United States Sentencing Commission. (2006). United States Sentencing Commission guidelines manual: Supplement to Appendix C. Washington, D.C: The Commission.
