SOC327 Chapter 1: SOC 327 text notes ch 1
Document Summary
Cj in canada has a system with checks and balances upon which case is divided. Decision makers have different mandates they are guided by examples: Judges: guided by principal of proportionality: when sentencing someone they have to make sure that sentence is proportional to seriousness of crime and to the culpability level of offender. Point of above examples: length of the sentence is determined by the seriousness, while portion of sentence served in prison is determined by other criteria shows complexity of the system. Justice system also complex because it has to respond to diverse human behavior- criminal conduct varies significantly and system has to respond accordingly. There are various different crimes people can commit (murder, minor. Also those convicted of same crimes likely have very different backgrounds (one more blameworthy than other) so system has to adjust. Overall: cases are all very different and justice system must have a way to treat them as so.