Understanding the District’s Sentencing Guidelines for Violent Crimes
On Thursday, November 2, 2017, the CJCC convened its annual Fall Public Meeting focused on Sentencing Guidelines (SGs), specifically as they relate to violent crimes. Sentencing guidelines are utilized by judges once a person is convicted of a criminal offense to determine and render an appropriate sentence. The Guidelines take into consideration the severity of the crime and the criminal history of the person charged with the crime. Judges adhere to the guidelines 97% of the time. However, across the District, questions have been raised with respect to how the guidelines are applied and, in turn, how offenders return to their communities so quickly after being processed through the criminal justice system.
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