The justice system has to be fair and square right? It has to put its weight of punishment the same on all people who tried to be better than the law, right? However, when you look at the world from a more grounded view you see the justice system lets some people go free and some go get incarcerated if not by four cement walls by debt. Let me explain when the justice system asks for bail, let's say 500 dollars, the lowest amount of bail for a first offender, to people with money that’s just a few bucks, but to people in the workforce who live in projects that may be their rent and food for the week. That is why I believe that When sentencing, judges should take in the circumstances of the defendant if the circumstances that are brought …show more content…
That is that it is hard due to laws. A judge is only the player in a large game system. He has to follow the rules or else well they too would break the law. For example ex judge Timothy K Lewis had to sentence a Teen that was going to be first in his family to attend college to a ten year sentence over possession of crack cocaine. Not because he wanted to, but because that was the only sentence he was allowed to make. Laws like these put restraints on a judge's power and sentence. Although there are laws that limit a judges power on the sentence they impose, judges should consider the past circumstances of an individual when sentencing because this consideration of the past helps everyone. It widens a judge's narrow view of a felon during or awaiting trial. According to Marc Mauer, the Author of a “race to incarcerate”, not everyone has the kind of funds to get a good attorney or to confidently and securely say that mental health counseling or drug treatment is a viable option. So again, how can judges sort of level the playing field? Well look at past circumstances. The information that can be attained when considering circumstances can help the judge make his decision, and possibly the defendant too by getting a lighter sentence. Additionally when considering these circumstances judges break down that thinking that all felons do is bad, that they are not real