chilot.wordpress.com Sentencing and Execution Teaching Material Prepared by: Dejene Girma & Mekonnen Feleke Prepared under the Sponsorship of the Justice and Legal System Research Institute 2009 chilot.wordpress.com Table of contents Chapter one: Rationales of sentencing--------------------------------------------------------1 1.1 Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.2 Theories of sentencing----------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.2.1 Retribution----------------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.2.2 Deterrence----------------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.2.3 Incapacitation------------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.2.4 Rehabilitation------------------------------------------------------------------------6 1.2 Social theories of sentencing-----------------------------------------------------------------------7 1.3 Conflict among different theories -----------------------------------------------------------------8 Chapter Two: Principles & Policies of Sentencing----------------------------------------13 2.1 Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 2.2 The principle of Law being Legitimate & Lawful :Legality-------------------------13 2.3 The principle of Equality before the Law----------------------------------------------15 2.4 The principle of Respect for Human Dignity------------------------------------------16 2.5 The principle of Rule of law & Due Process of Law ---------------------------------17 2.6 Consistency, Proportionality & Transparency-----------------------------------------19 2.7 The Policy of Public Expenditure-------------------------------------------------------21 Chapter Three: The Role of Wings of Government in Determination of Sentence-24 3.1 Introduction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------24 3.2 The Role of the Legislature---------------------------------------------------------------24 3.3 The Role of the Judiciary-----------------------------------------------------------------25 3.4 The Role of the Executive----------------------------------------------------------------25 Chapter Four: Sentencing Statutes-----------------------------------------------------------29 4.1 Introduction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------29 i chilot.wordpress.com 4.2 Indeterminate Sentencing Statute--------------------------------------------------------29 4.3 Determinate Sentencing Statute----------------------------------------------------------31 4.3.1 Discretionary Sentencing Statute--------------------------------------------------33 4.3.2 Mandatory Sentencing Statute ----------------------------------------------------------33 4.3.3 Presumptive Sentencing Statute ---------------------------------------------------------35 4.4 How Discretion be narrowed?-----------------------------------------------------------36 Chapter Five: Kinds of Punishment---------------------------------------------------------41 5.1 Introduction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------41 5.2 Principal Penalties-------------------------------------------------------------------------41 5.2.1 Fines--------------------------------------------------------------------------------42 5.2.2 Imprisonment----------------------------------------------------------------------43 5.2.3 Death Penalty----------------------------------------------------------------------46 5.3 Secondary Penalties-------------------------------------------------------------------------48 Chapter Six: Determination of Sentence----------------------------------------------------51 6.1 Introduction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------51 6.2 Capital Punishment------------------------------------------------------------------------52 6.2.1 Controversies --------------------------------------------------------------------52 6.2.1.1 Proponents' view---------------------------------------------------------52 6.2.1.2 Retentionists' view -----------------------------------------------------53 6.2.2 Subjects----------------------------------------------------------------------------54 6.2.3 Cruel, Degrading & Inhuman Treatment or Punishment--------------------57 6.3 Imprisonment ------------------------------------------------------------------------------59 6.3.1 Simple Imprisonment------------------------------------------------------------60 ii chilot.wordpress.com 6.3.2 Rigorous imprisonment-----------------------------------------------------------------------61 6.3.3 Life imprisonment-----------------------------------------------------------------------------61 6.3.4 Arrest---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------63 6.4 Fine & Other Pecuniary Penalties----------------------------------------------------------------65 Chapter Seven: Fixing Deserved Punishment----------------------------------------------71 7.1 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71 7.2 Factors that affect punishment --------------------------------------------------------------73 7.2.1 Aggravating Circumstances------------------------------------------------------------73 7.2.1.1 General Aggravating Circumstance-----------------------------------73 7.2.2.2 Special Aggravating Circumstances-----------------------------------78 7.2.2 Mitigating Circumstances-------------------------------------------------------80 7.2.2.1 General Mitigating Circumstances------------------------------------80 7.2.2.2 Special Mitigating Circumstances ------------------------------------85 7.3 Determination of sentence in cases of Concurrent Crimes---------------------------89 7.3.1 Notional Concurrence------------------------------------------------------------91 7.3.2 Material Concurrence------------------------------------------------------------91 7.4 Methods of Assessment in concurrent crimes……………………………………94 7.4.1 Cumulating -----------------------------------------------------------------------------95 7.4.2. Assimilation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------96 7.4.3 Aggravation----------------------------------------------------------------------------97 7.5 Cumulation of Extenuating and Aggravating Circumstances ---------------------------95 Part II: Execution of Criminal Sentences----------------------------------101 Chapter Eight: Mode of execution of penalties-------------------------------------------103 iii chilot.wordpress.com 8.1 Execution of principal penalties for ordinary crimes-----------------------------------103 8.1.1 Execution of fine and other pecuniary penalties----------------------------------103 8.1.2 Execution of Sentence of Compulsory Labour-----------------------------------110 8.1.3 Execution of penalty entailing loss of liberty (imprisonment)-----------------116 8.1.4 Execution of Death Penalty---------------------------------------------------------133 8. 2 Execution of principal penalties for petty offences-------------------------------------139 8.2.1 Execution of arrest--------------------------------------------------------------------139 8.2.2 Execution of fine---------------------------------------------------------------------143 8.3 Execution of Concurrent Sentences-------------------------------------------------------145 8.4 Execution of secondary penalties----------------------------------------------------------147 Chapter Nine: Suspension and Discontinuance of Penalties---------------------------149 9.1 Suspension of Penalties --------------------------------------------------------------------149 9.1.1 Rationales------------------------------------------------------------------------------149 9.1.2 Conditional suspension of penalties------------------------------------------------149 9.1.3 Conditional release of criminals----------------------------------------------------152 9.2 Discontinuance of the enforcement of penalties-----------------------------------------153 9.2.1 Rationales for discontinuance of execution of sentences-------------------------153 9.2.2 Grounds for discontinuance of penalties--------------------------------------------154 9.2.2.1 Death of the convict--------------------------------------------------------------154 9.2.2.2 Period of limitation--------------------------------------------------------------154 9.2.2.3 Pardon-----------------------------------------------------------------------------159 iv chilot.wordpress.com 9.2.2.4 Amnesty---------------------------------------------------------------------------161 9.2.2.5 Parole-------------------------------------------------------------------------------163 Reference Materials----------------------------------------------------------------------------165 v chilot.wordpress.com Chapter One Rationales of Sentencing Objective of the Chapter At the end of this Chapter, the students will be able to: Discuss the main rationales behind punishment; Identify conflict among different theories; Evaluate the Ethiopian Criminal Code in terms of these theories. 1.1 Introduction Sentencing may be defined as the imposition of penalty upon a person convicted of a crime. When we talk of sentencing, one thing that comes to our mind is the person found guilty of the