Gabrielle SalineCriminal Justice - Module 3"There is only one fundamental human right, the right to do what you want unless doing so causes harm to others. With it comes the the only fundamental human duty, the duty to bear the consequences." PJ O'Rourke. Many citizens do not understand the purpose of the justice system to impose criminal sentences. In this essay I will explain the purpose of criminal sentences, the different forms of sentencing, and some reforms that have been proposed to Congress. Traditionally, sentences ranged from imprisonment, to fines, to probation and, if the crime was very serious, to death. Years ago it was believed that crime was due to sin, and that suffering was the punishment of the criminal. The consequences were capital punishment, torture and painful physical punishment. Recently many believe that separating offenders will limit their potential for future crimes. While we still believe that offenders deserve to be punished, hope for their recovery has not been lost. There are five main objectives in criminal sentencing, punishment, incapacitation, deterrence, rehabilitation and restoration. Each of these goals serves a purpose that benefits not only society but also the criminal. The purpose of retribution is a “just desserts” perspective that emphasizes revenge on a criminal perpetrator or group of offenders. It refers to the "just deserts" model, which holds criminals accountable for their crimes. Retribution believes that punishments are justified, deserved, and sometimes even warranted by the offender's behavior. The main sentence of the "righteous" is mainly imprisonment, but sometimes, in extreme cases, capital punishment becomes the crucial punishment. Retribution is still the primary focus of criminal sentences. Incapacity is... middle of paper... federal convictions cover the topics of overall federal crimes, drug trafficking, immigration crimes, firearms crimes, fraud crimes, child pornography crimes, criminals professional and relevant conduct. The most current issues in federal sentencing are the replacement of guidelines with mandatory minimum and maximum sentences. After a few federal cases, one professor, Frank Bowman, proposed changing the guideline choices in the sentencing table "to raise the upper limit of each guideline range to the statutory maximum of the sentencing offense(s). (USSC.GOV) There is a group called the Sentencing Project that works for a fair and effective criminal justice system here in the United States. Their primary mission is to reform sentencing policies, promote alternatives to incarnation, and address inequities and unjust racial practices. (PROJECT)