Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

One of the highly controversial issues today relates to whether the judiciary system should adopt fixed sentences for all

crimes

, or it should consider the

circumstances

and motivation behind each misdeed. In

this

essay, I am going to shed some light on

this

question from both points of view and extend my support for the latter opinion. On one side of the argument, there are people who argue that the benefits of adopting a fixed punishment structure for the

crimes

committed considerably outweigh its disadvantages.

This

is because fixed punishments will probably save a lot of time and money that could

otherwise

be directed for use in much-needed services in other sectors of the community

such

as health and education. Another reason for believing

this

is that criminals will think twice before they commit any crime, as they would realize that punishment is going to be swift and strict. One good illustration of

this

is the declining rate of

crimes

in some countries that adopt a very strict and harsh punitive system.

On the other hand

, it is

also

possible to make an opposing case. It is often argued that in many cases there are extenuating

circumstances

behind many of the

crimes

committed, especially minor ones. People often have

this

opinion because in many countries and communities there may be strong factors influencing crime rates

such

as poverty and blackmailing.

Therefore

, it is crucial for judges to consider all the

circumstances

surrounding a defendant or a case to issue a just and fair verdict.

For instance

, a young woman convicted of public misconduct may have been forced into prostitution due to poverty.

Thus

, it goes without saying that their viewpoint is credible and realistic. To conclude, in my opinion, both arguments have their merits. On balance,

however

, I tend to believe that considering the

circumstances

behind each crime is paramount in order to reach a fair and just verdict in the courtroom.