Sentencing Alternatives to Jail and Prison

Sentencing Alternatives to Jail and Prison
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Introduction
The number of incarcerated in both state and federal prisons have been high for almost a decade in the US. Ideally, the high imprisonment rate puts high pressure on governments in terms of funds. Jails and prison population continue to explode making both courts and lawmakers to stay open to incarceration alternatives. Clearly, lawmakers are open to incarceration alternatives as long cases do not involve mandatory sentencing. In many country’s there are alternatives to prison or jail especially when cases are less serious. More so, when a defendant has been convicted the attorney has the option to negotiate incarceration alternatives.
Incarceration Alternatives
First, fines, community service, and restitution stand as the most common incarceration alternatives. Several courts often impose sentencing that involve community service, fines, and restitution for different misdemeanour offenses such as disorderly conduct, trespassing, minor theft, property damage, embezzlement, and loitering as alternatives to incarceration (Ryon, Early, & Kosloski, A2017). Often fines and community service are used when the victim is young. Fines often goes to the government coffers whereas restitutions force the victim to pay for the damages such as financial loses because of one’s misconduct. Community service forces victim to engage in janitorial activities.
Secondly, probation is a key alternative to incarceration. When probation is used as an alternative by a judge the offense is often a felony or misdemeanour. The defendant is expected to comply with some terms and conditions to avoid prison. Probation comes either as a deferred or suspended sentence. Deferred sentence means that court will defer imposing a sentence until one completes probation. If the defendant completes probation successfully the case is dismissed. Violation of the te...