Sentencing Reform Act

Norway emphasizes safe prisons, short sentences, and rehabilitation. All corrections officers must have

two years of college-level classes and training emphasizing social work and psychology. The prisoners

are never double-bunked to avoid violating their rights and harming their rehabilitation. They are allowed

to wear their own clothes to avoid the constant reminder of their status. This seems to be effective for

this country’s recidivism. Would this methodology work in the United States? Explain your answer in

detail.

In the adversarial trial system, the very first decision made is whether to keep the defendant in jail awaiting trial, to set bond, or to release the defendant on his or her own recognizance. This decision affects both the accused and the entire criminal process thereafter. Explain in detail how each decision a court makes affects the accused. The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 prescribed ranges of sentences for specific crimes and was designed to eliminate disparity in punishment for like crimes and to curb judicial capriciousness. Some consider the Act a success, while others consider the Act a disaster. Explain in detail the success and failure of the Act and provide, in your opinion, suggestions to enhance its effectiveness.

Prisons are designed for punishment, not rehabilitation and comprehensive mental health treatment. Many prisoners who need assistance in specific rehabilitation and suffer from mental health illnesses suffer from prison’s brutal environments; lacking the coping mechanisms that other prisoners possess. What services can be provided to those who desire rehabilitation to break the negative trends and those who suffer from mental health illnesses with buffer their cognitive skills to adapt to prison environment? Explain your answer in detail.