Criminal sentencing guidelines exist to establish consistent criminal sentencing standards for certain offenses. These guidelines are in place to help judges apply sentencing evenly and fairly to individuals who have committed the same or similar crimes.
Though sentencing guidelines provide a range, various factors also influence the final sentence delivered by a judge. Depending on the factors of each case, the court may impose sentences that are harsher or more lenient within a given sentencing range. Factors that frequently influence the court’s decision include prior criminal history, aggravating or mitigating circumstances, the nature of the crime, and much more.
Certain crimes may have specific factors on top of more general considerations. The quantity of drugs in one’s possession, for example, is a significant factor influencing sentencing for drug crimes in Arizona.