Respond to the following: Answer the 2 discussion question. Include at least 1 reference.

A good response to a written question should combine your personal experiences with theory to support your work. Be thoughtful and insightful and it must demonstrate critical thinking and analysis. A good response to the question should be about 3-4 paragraphs, and address all of the issues that are raised. (Introduction, body and conclusion.) Thank you. When answering discussion questions use an example in your answer. These examples can be from your own experience or from something you’ve read in the news, on the internet, or from any other credible source

M5D1: What Does Money Have to Do With it?

It was once a common adage that “you get as much justice as you can afford.” That is, the rich and powerful exact better legal representation than the poor and indigent. However, with overcrowded prisons, enormous caseloads, and given the current economic climate where many state and local governments are struggling with budget deficits, some states are actually presenting their judges with the approximate costs of prison, probation, and other forms of punishment so that these economic factors can be carefully weighed in their sentence practices. But, critics and prosecutors are concerned that judges may go too easy on criminals in order to meet budget goals, at the real “expense” of the larger social costs of crime, particularly as it relates to the victims.

1. Discuss and debate which side of the issue you most favor regarding judges being presented with potential sentencing costs before they render a sentence.

M5D2: Sentencing Options for the Mentally Ill

Often, the seriously mentally ill in our nation are more likely to be incarcerated than hospitalized, although due process advocates argue that deinstitutionalization would allow the mentally ill to have the same rights and freedoms as others; however, others argue this is not a simple “one-size-fits all” issue. Judges at all levels of our court system often struggle with this sort of sentencing decision, relying heavily on the findings of the pre – sentence report. Pre-sentence investigators attempt to define the defendant’s illness and weigh it to the particular crime when suggesting sentencing recommendations, but, ultimately, the sentencing decision rests with the judge, and both society and the defendant must endure any unintended consequences that may arise from the sentencing decision, as presented in the following video.

View the video, The Released: Downside of Deinstitutionalization (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.  [Video File][01 Min 53 Sec]

2. If you were a pre-sentence officer, discuss your reasons and the sentencing options you might recommend to the judge in the case of a seriously mentally ill defendant, ensuring that both the public’s and the defendant’s rights are protected.