Comparative Analysis of Punishment in Criminal Law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59022/ijlp.524Keywords:
Comparative Criminal Law, Sentencing Disparity, Retribution, Rehabilitation, Judicial Discretion, Proportionality, Penal Policy, ProportionalityAbstract
This research compared punishment practices across two different legal systems. One system followed retribution as its primary philosophy. The other system prioritized rehabilitation for most offenders. The study examined sentencing outcomes for aggravated assault, property theft, drug possession, and homicide. Data came from appellate judgments, pre-sentence reports, and official sentencing databases. The findings revealed significant differences between both systems. System A imposed longer prison sentences and used incarceration more frequently. System B preferred community alternatives and restitution orders for non-violent crimes. A serious proportionality violation emerged in System A where drug possession received harsher punishment than reckless endangerment. Judicial discretion varied widely between systems with corresponding effects on sentencing consistency. Both systems agreed on life imprisonment for homicide but differed on parole eligibility periods. The results challenge purely retributive theories and support hybrid sentencing models. Recent reforms in Portugal, Canada, and Germany align with the study's recommendations for balanced approaches
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