List and describe the at least three actors in the sentencing process

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The sentencing process rests in the hands of a number of actors. They include the prosecutor, the judge, and the probation staff. The prosecutor is an appointed or elected official who is responsible for bringing the state's case against the accused. In recent years, prosecutors have gained greater leverage to extract guilty pleas from defendants and, as a result, reduce the number of cases that go to trial. New laws have resulted in giving prosecutors more power in the courtroom. This has resulted in a transfer of power from judges to prosecutors, which has undercut the formal court process with a more informal system. Judges ultimately decide the sentence. Judges typically choose the type of sentence, its length, and in the case of probation, the conditions under which it may be revoked. Before sentencing takes place, it is common for the court's probation staff to conduct a presentence investigation report. This contains information about the defendant's background, prior criminal record, education, previous employment, and family. The presentence investigation serves as the basis for sentencing and has a significant influence on whether the convicted defendant will get community release or secure confinement.