Sentencing Table Of Contents

SENTENCING

In February 1993, the ABA House of Delegates approved these “black letter” standards that have been published with commentary in ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Sentencing, 3d ed., © 1994 American Bar Association. For the text of the publication, click HERE . To go directly to individual “black letter” standards (without commentary), click on the links below. For information about purchasing the printed volume, please click here .

PART I. Scope of chapter; sentence authorities

PART II. PUBLIC POLICY LEGISLATIVE CHOICES

Standard 18-2.1      Multiple purposes; consequential and retributive approaches
Standard 18-2.2      Types of sanctions authorized
Standard 18-2.3      Costs of criminal sanctions; resources needed
Standard 18-2.4      Severity of sentences generally
Standard 18-2.5      Determinacy and disparity
Standard 18-2.6      Individualization of sentences
Standard 18-2.7      Systemic review

PART III. LEGISLATIVELY AUTHORIZED SENTENCES

Standard 18-3.1      Ordinary offenses and offenders
Standard 18-3.2      Mitigating factors
Standard 18-3.3      Definition of offenses; aggravating factors
Standard 18-3.4      Personal characteristics of individual offenders
Standard 18-3.5      Criminal history; recidivism
Standard 18-3.6      Offense of conviction as basis for sentence
Standard 18-3.7      Convictions of multiple offenses
Standard 18-3.8      Multiple offenses in different jurisdictions
Standard 18-3.9      Acknowledgment of responsibility
Standard 18-3.10    Cooperation with prosecution
Standard 18-3.11    Authorization of sanctions
Standard 18-3.12    Use of authorized sanctions; guidance to sentencing courts
Standard 18-3.13    Compliance programs for individuals
Standard 18-3.14    Compliance programs for organizations
Standard 18-3.15    Restitution or reparation
Standard 18-3.16    Fines
Standard 18-3.17    Community service
Standard 18-3.18    Acknowledgment sanctions
Standard 18-3.19    Intermittent confinement in facility
Standard 18-3.20    Home detention
Standard 18-3.21    Total confinement
Standard 18-3.22    Costs, fees, and assessments

PART IV. THE INTERMEDIATE FUNCTION

Standard 18-4.1    Basic responsibilities of the agency performing the intermediate function
Standard 18-4.2    Establishment of sentencing commission
Standard 18-4.3    Creation of provisions to guide sentence discretion
Standard 18-4.4    Structure of provisions to guide sentence discretion
Standard 18-4.5    Legislative agency to perform the intermediate function
Standard 18-4.6    Judicial agency to perform the intermediate function

PART V. SENTENCING PROCEDURES

Standard 18-5.1    Information for sentence determination and system accountability
Standard 18-5.2    Requirement of report
Standard 18-5.3    Substantiation of information
Standard 18-5.4    Contents of report
Standard 18-5.5    Timing of investigation and report
Standard 18-5.6    Confidentiality of presentence report
Standard 18-5.7    Disclosure of report to parties
Standard 18-5.8    Disputes regarding information in report; stipulations; presentence conferences
Standard 18-5.9    Notice to victims
Standard 18-5.10 Victims’ statements prior to sentencing hearings
Standard 18-5.11   Victims’ statements at sentencing hearings
Standard 18-5.12   Evidentiary effect of victims’ statements
Standard 18-5.13   Designation of sentencing judge
Standard 18-5.14   Time of sentencing
Standard 18-5.15   Notice of possible departure from presumptive sentence
Standard 18-5.16   Consolidation of multiple offenses for sentencing; disposition of other charges
Standard 18-5.17   Sentencing hearing
Standard 18-5.18   Findings of the sentencing court
Standard 18-5.19   Imposition of sentence
Standard 18-5.20   Record of sentencing proceedings
Standard 18-5.21   Sentence reports

PART VI. SENTENCING DISCRETION

Standard 18-6.1    General principles
Standard 18-6.2    Considering types of sanctions; composite sentences
Standard 18-6.3    Using presumptive sentences; mitigating and aggravating factors and personal characteristics of individual offenders; criminal history
Standard 18-6.4    Sentencing to total confinement
Standard 18-6.5    Sentencing for more than one offense

PART VII. CHANGE OF SENTENCE

Standard 18-7.1    Authority to reduce the severity of sentences
Standard 18-7.2    Authority to modify requirements or conditions of sentences in light of changed circumstances
Standard 18-7.3    Legislative authority to resentence offenders for violation of the requirements or conditions of sentences
Standard 18-7.4    Procedures regarding violations of requirements or conditions of sentences

PART VIII. APPELLATE REVIEW OF SENTENCES

Standard 18-8.1    Jurisdiction to review sentences; reviewing courts
Standard 18-8.2    Purposes of appellate review
Standard 18-8.3    Appeals by defense or prosecution
Standard 18-8.4    Disposition by reviewing court

PART IX. DISPUTED TERMS OF TOTAL CONFINEMENT

Standard 18-9.1    Mechanism for resolving disputes about the length of a total confinement sentence

 

For More Information

Criminal Justice Standards Committee

For more information concerning the Criminal Justice Standards, please contact Susan Hillenbrand, Standards Project Director either through e-mail , or telephone at (202) 662-1503.

CONTACT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTION