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{{move|Sentencing guidelines}}
{{move|Sentencing guidelines}}
'''Sentencing guidelines''' are recommended ranges of punishment for criminal [[defendant]]s after they have been convicted of a [[crime]]. [[Judge]]s use guidelines in many jurisdictions in deciding how much punishment, usually measured in months in jail, to impose on a convicted criminal. The federal government, several states, and some nations nations in Europe utilize sentencing guidelines.<ref>http://www.scottishsentencingcommission.gov.uk/docs/consistency/Sentencing Guidelines Around the World.pdf</ref>
'''Sentencing guidelines''' are recommended ranges of punishment for criminal [[defendant]]s after they have been convicted of a [[crime]]. [[Judge]]s use official (generally legislative) guidelines in many jurisdictions in deciding the severity of punishment for a convicted defendant. Guidelines exist for jail time, monetary compensation, community service, and in some cases such as DUIs, even appropriate "classes" a convicted defendant must take. The federal government, several states, and some nations in Europe utilize sentencing guidelines.<ref>http://www.scottishsentencingcommission.gov.uk/docs/consistency/Sentencing Guidelines Around the World.pdf</ref>
The United States Sentencing Guidelines establish a base level offense number range for each crime, which amounts to a recommendation to the judge to sentence the defendant somewhere in the range depending on particular circumstances and degree of wrongdoing. Then the base level offense number is combined with the defendant's prior criminal history, if any, to calculate the total number of months in jail for the defendant.
The United States Sentencing Guidelines establish a base level offense number range for each crime, which amounts to a recommendation to the judge to sentence the defendant somewhere in the range depending on particular circumstances and degree of wrongdoing. Then the base level offense number is combined with the defendant's prior criminal history, if any, to calculate the total number of months in jail for the defendant.