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This is a no win situation. If you give judges the final word, sentences will not be deemed "fair"-cries of racism will follow. If Judges must follow strict sentencing guidelines-cries of racism will follow. The guidlines are unfair to minority defendents. I think some punishments are quite harsh. I know of one case where a kid got caught with a "roach" in his car. He received a sentence of five years (mandatory sentencing guidelines). On the other hand, in my neighborhood a man raped a 13 year old (he had met her on the internet) The guy went to her house and raped her. The guy got probation. This judge is known to be sympathetic to sex offenders. (no sentencing guidlines). Yet in the same state, there is an 18 year old defendent who was convicted of statuatory rape of a 15 year old, and he got 10 years (again no guidelines). What to do.....?