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The Inequality Of Sentencing And Arguments

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What reasons are there for inequalities in sentencing and arguments could be brought forward to justify the inequalities?
1800 WORDS
For the purposes of this dissertation an interview via email was conducted with local MSP Christine Grahame on the 10th of October 2015. The questions she was asked and her responses:
Do you believe within the criminal justice system a person’s gender plays a role in the severity of their punishment? Please explain your answer.
This is an issue I could prove and disprove. Women commit less crime on the whole. A first time offender, dependent on their crime, should receive a lesser sentence than someone who repeatedly reoffends. The crime in which a woman commits tends to be much less serious or severe as the crimes men commit –this will explain the difference in sentencing. However, as chair of the justice committee I’m completely aware woman are committing more similar crimes to men, now, more so than ever. I do believe if the crime is the same then the punishment should be, however a lot of factors come into play with this issue. The factor of chivalry, the success of the guilty party’s lawyer and the motives behind the crime. These issues all change a person’s punishment –it may be these issues more than gender.

If you believe this to be problem how do you suppose your government tackles it?
Gender equality within the criminal justice system. If the factor of chivalry is a dominating answer to this issue we need more females in

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