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.

Supporters of fixed punishments argue that having set consequences for specific crimes ensures fairness and consistency in the legal system. If every person who commits the crime receives the same sentence, it removes bias or discrimination from judicial decisions. If someone gets 12 years or more for murder, the judge cannot choose to reduce the sentence for anyone.

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, fixed punishments can serve as a strong deterrent, because potential criminals will know that their sentences will never be reduced Considering circumstances and motivation

On the other hand

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, many argue that the context of the crime must be considered. Two people might commit the same crime for entirely different reasons — one out of greed and the other out of desperation or coercion.

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, a person who steals food to feed their starving children should not be punished as harshly as someone who steals for personal gain.

This

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view emphasizes justice over strict equality, suggesting that a judge should have the flexibility to assess the criminal’s intentions, background, and other surrounding factors when deciding on a sentence My opinion

While

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fixed punishments can make the legal system more uniform, I believe that judges should be allowed discretion to consider the circumstances of each case. A rigid system might result in injustice, especially in complex situations where the offender’s actions

were

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influenced by hardship or mental illness. A balanced approach, where there are general sentencing guidelines but

also

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room for judicial interpretation, is likely the most effective and fair.