In your response post to classmates, evaluate the model selected by the classmate. If you agree with the classmate’s view that the selected model is more effective, expand upon the points made by the classmate to defend this sentencing model over the other option. If you disagree, respectfully defend why you believe the alternative sentencing model is more effective.
Determinate sentencing is a fixed number of years a person must serve while an indeterminate sentencing is a range of years that a prisoner will serve but can be reviewed by a parole board allowing for a shorter number of years served. Determinate sentencing is considered a deterrence with many people believing it will lead to less future crimes if a person is sentenced for a fixed number of years. If a person is sentenced to five to ten years for a crime, this is an example of indeterminate sentencing, while if someone is arrested, charged, and then sentenced and that sentence is exactly six months in the county jail, this is considered determinate sentencing. Before the 1970s the most used model of sentencing was indeterminate which some say is necessary in keeping with the idea that prison is meant to rehabilitate. State laws decide the sentencing when determinate sentencing is used, and there is no decision under the parole boards that can change this (Zhang, etc. Al., 2014).
Zhang, etc. Al. (2014) looked at six states to find the outcome of either indeterminate or determinate sentencing in relation to recidivism. The states surveyed were Maryland, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas. The determinate sentencing model seemed to reduce recidivism in both Maryland and Virginia, while in both New York and North Carolina, the indeterminate sentencing model seemed to reduce recidivism rates. However, with both Oregon and Texas there didn't seem to be much difference in recidivism rates with either model. Based on the research, it's hard to say if either indeterminate or determinate sentencing will reduce recidivism rates, and given this research, it's likely based on the uniqueness of each state, it might be best to rely on either determinate or indeterminate sentencing given the statistics only found in that particular state. One might argue that with indeterminate sentencing, the individual given the opportunity to get out of prison sooner may be less likely to reoffend because of the hope of early release that he is offered. But you could also argue that with determinate sentencing, the fear of knowing you will not be released early or given a chance to reduce the sentence you were handed down could be reason enough to not reoffend.