document_title: Common raven

token: Common

token: raven

token: wikipedia

token: A

token: large

token: black

token: passerine

token: bird

token: of

token: the

token: Northern

token: Hemisphere

token: Corvus

token: corax

token: redirects

token: here

token: For

token: German

token: band

token: see

token: Corax

token: butterfly

token: called

token: common

token: Papilio

token: castor

token: <Table>

token: <Tr>

token: <Th colspan="2">

token: <Td colspan="2">

token: Conservation

token: status

token: Least

token: Concern

token: IUCN

token: Scientific

token: classification

token: <Td>

token: Kingdom

token: Animalia

token: Phylum

token: Chordata

token: Class

token: Aves

token: Order

token: Passeriformes

token: Family

token: Corvidae

token: Genus

token: Species

token: C.

token: Binomial

token: name

token: النَّادِمِينَ

token: српскохрватски


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			<H1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading" lang="en">Criminal sentencing in the United States</H1>
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<TD class="mbox-text"><SPAN class="mbox-text-span">This article <B>needs additional citations for <A href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">verification</A></B>. <SPAN class="hide-when-compact">Please help <A class="external text" href="//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit">improve this article</A> by <A href="/wiki/Help:Introduction_to_referencing_with_Wiki_Markup/1" title="Help:Introduction to referencing with Wiki Markup/1">adding citations to reliable sources</A>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.</SPAN> <SMALL><I>(June 2010)</I></SMALL> <SMALL class="hide-when-compact"><I>(<A href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this template message</A>)</I></SMALL></SPAN></TD>
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<P>In the United States, sentencing law varies by jurisdiction. Since the <A href="/wiki/US_Constitution" class="mw-redirect" title="US Constitution">US Constitution</A> is the supreme law of the land, all sentences in the United States must conform to the requirements of the Constitution, which sets basic mandates while leaving the bulk of policy-making up to the states.</P>
<P>Despite the continued growth of federal criminal law, the vast majority of criminal sentencing takes place in state and local <A href="/wiki/Court" title="Court">courts</A>. Except for <A href="/wiki/Death_penalty" class="mw-redirect" title="Death penalty">death penalty</A> cases (which are exceptionally rare), <A href="/wiki/Jury" title="Jury">juries</A> generally have little involvement in sentencing, which is typically left to the discretion of the presiding <A href="/wiki/Judge" title="Judge">judge</A>. Sentences are typically pronounced by the judge in a separate hearing, after the jury (or other <A href="/wiki/Finder_of_fact" class="mw-redirect" title="Finder of fact">finder of fact</A>) has issued findings of fact and a <A href="/wiki/Guilt_(law)" title="Guilt (law)">guilty</A> <A href="/wiki/Verdict" title="Verdict">verdict</A>, and in some cases after the <A href="/wiki/Probation" title="Probation">probation department</A> has carried out a pre-sentence investigation. The structure and <A href="/wiki/Jurisdiction" title="Jurisdiction">jurisdiction</A> of courts within a <A href="/wiki/State_(United_States)" class="mw-redirect" title="State (United States)">state</A> are typically governed by state law, as are sentences and <A href="/wiki/Sentencing_guidelines" title="Sentencing guidelines">sentencing guidelines</A> and regimes. There is enormous substantive and procedural difference between the <A href="/wiki/Criminal_law" title="Criminal law">criminal laws</A> of the fifty states and the various federal territories and enclaves.</P>
<P>Each state is very different from every other state in terms of sentencing, and even what acts are crimes:</P>
<UL>
<LI>Actions which might constitute a <A href="/wiki/Crime" title="Crime">crime</A> in one state would not necessarily constitute a crime in another state, or they might constitute a crime of a different severity. A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old having <A href="/wiki/Consensual_sex" class="mw-redirect" title="Consensual sex">consensual sexual intercourse</A> might constitute a crime in one state but not another. A person possessing <A href="/wiki/Cannabis" title="Cannabis">cannabis</A>, certain types of <A href="/wiki/Firearm" title="Firearm">firearms</A>, or <A href="/wiki/Exotic_pet" title="Exotic pet">exotic animals</A> might be committing serious crimes in some states but are perfectly legal to possess in other states. A <A href="/wiki/Burglary" title="Burglary">burglary</A> might be completed only upon entry into a locked house in one state, but upon entry into an attached <A href="/wiki/Carport" title="Carport">carport</A> in another.</LI>
<LI>States have different schemes for dividing up crimes by severity and these categories might have similar names across states, but different practical effects. For example, a "2nd degree <A href="/wiki/Felony" title="Felony">felony</A>" in <A href="/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</A> is a category of crime punishable by up to 15 years in <A href="/wiki/Prison" title="Prison">prison</A> with no minimum while a "2nd degree felony" in <A href="/wiki/Texas" title="Texas">Texas</A> is a category of crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, with a <A href="/wiki/Mandatory_sentencing" title="Mandatory sentencing">mandatory minimum</A> of 2 years <A href="/wiki/Imprisonment" title="Imprisonment">incarceration</A>.</LI>
<LI>Many states have adopted sentencing guidelines which incorporate various factors into a single formula that may or may not constrain the judge's sentencing discretion. The general purpose of these schemes is to produce uniform and fair sentencing within a jurisdiction. However, since views about the correct approach to criminal justice vary from state to state, these statutory schemes vary enormously.</LI>
<LI>Many states have mandatory sentencing <A href="/wiki/Statute" title="Statute">statutes</A> which remove the judge's discretion under certain circumstances. Mandatory sentencing schemes typically require minimum periods of incarceration for certain serious crimes and for individuals who have serious <A href="/wiki/Criminal_record" title="Criminal record">criminal records</A>. The state typically has discretion to pursue or waive mandatory sentencing. The content of these mandatory sentencing statutes and the procedures required to bring them into play are different in each state.</LI>
<LI>Some states have <A href="/wiki/Parole" title="Parole">parole</A> or <A href="/wiki/Time_off_for_good_behavior" class="mw-redirect" title="Time off for good behavior">early release from incarceration</A>, while others do not. Many states have forms of punishment that are less severe than incarceration (such as <A href="/wiki/Probation" title="Probation">probation</A>, time in a <A href="/wiki/Halfway_house" title="Halfway house">halfway house</A>, <A href="/wiki/Community_service" title="Community service">community service</A>, or <A href="/wiki/House_arrest" title="House arrest">house arrest</A>), but the exact form of these punishments, as well as which people can be sentenced under such alternatives, varies from state to state.</LI>
</UL>
<P>Some prisoners are given <A href="/wiki/Life_sentence" class="mw-redirect" title="Life sentence">life sentences</A>. In some states, a life sentence means <A href="/wiki/Life_without_parole" class="mw-redirect" title="Life without parole">life, without the possibility of parole</A>. In other states, people with life sentences are eligible for parole. In some cases, the <A href="/wiki/Death_penalty" class="mw-redirect" title="Death penalty">death penalty</A> may be applicable; however, since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in <A href="/wiki/Ring_v._Arizona" title="Ring v. Arizona">Ring v. Arizona</A>, a recommendation of the trial jury is required to impose a sentence of death.</P>
<UL>
<LI>However, As one can be sentenced to Life without parole, Another way to be sentenced for life in prison is a minimum amount of years spent in jail depending on the life expectancy of the prisoner. Thus the prisoner will then spend the rest of his or her life in prison.<SUP id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-1">[1]</A></SUP></LI>
</UL>
<P>The <A href="/wiki/U.S._Sentencing_Guidelines" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Sentencing Guidelines">U.S. Sentencing Guidelines</A> prescribe a reduction of sentence time for most defendants who <A href="/wiki/Accept_responsibility" class="mw-redirect" title="Accept responsibility">accept responsibility</A> and plead guilty; further discounts are available to some defendants through <A href="/wiki/Fact_bargaining" title="Fact bargaining">fact bargaining</A>, <A href="/wiki/Substantial_assistance" class="mw-redirect" title="Substantial assistance">substantial assistance</A>, and so on. Federal court statistics from 2003 show that the average sentence given for offenses resolved by guilty plea was 54.7 months, while the average sentence for offenses resolved by trial was 153.7 months.<SUP id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-2">[2]</A></SUP></P>
<P></P>
<DIV id="toc" class="toc">
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<H2>Contents</H2>
<SPAN class="toctoggle"> [<A role="button" tabindex="0" class="togglelink">hide</A>] </SPAN></DIV>
<UL>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><A href="#Indeterminate_sentencing"><SPAN class="tocnumber">1</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Indeterminate sentencing</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><A href="#Determinate_sentencing"><SPAN class="tocnumber">2</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Determinate sentencing</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3"><A href="#Trends_in_sentencing_law"><SPAN class="tocnumber">3</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Trends in sentencing law</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><A href="#Sentencing_of_Killers"><SPAN class="tocnumber">4</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Sentencing of Killers</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><A href="#Arizona"><SPAN class="tocnumber">5</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Arizona</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><A href="#Florida"><SPAN class="tocnumber">6</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Florida</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><A href="#Hawaii"><SPAN class="tocnumber">7</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Hawaii</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><A href="#Louisiana"><SPAN class="tocnumber">8</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Louisiana</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9"><A href="#Michigan"><SPAN class="tocnumber">9</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Michigan</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10"><A href="#Nevada"><SPAN class="tocnumber">10</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Nevada</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11"><A href="#Washington"><SPAN class="tocnumber">11</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Washington</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><A href="#Massachusetts"><SPAN class="tocnumber">12</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">Massachusetts</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-13"><A href="#See_also"><SPAN class="tocnumber">13</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">See also</SPAN></A></LI>
<LI class="toclevel-1 tocsection-14"><A href="#References"><SPAN class="tocnumber">14</SPAN> <SPAN class="toctext">References</SPAN></A></LI>
</UL>
</DIV>
<P></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Indeterminate_sentencing">Indeterminate sentencing</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Indeterminate sentencing">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In some states, a judge will sentence criminals to an indeterminate amount of time in prison for certain crimes. This period is often between 1 and 3 years (on the short end) and 5–50 years on the upper end. The legislature generally sets a short, mandatory minimum sentence that an offender must spend in prison (e.g. one-third of the minimum sentence, or one-third of the high end of a sentence). The parole board then sets the actual date of prison release, as well as the rules that the parolee must follow when released.</P>
<P>During a long sentence, an offender can take full advantage of the programs that the prison has, including rehab for <A href="/wiki/Drug_abuse" class="mw-redirect" title="Drug abuse">drug abuse</A> or <A href="/wiki/Alcohol_abuse" title="Alcohol abuse">alcohol abuse</A>, <A href="/wiki/Anger_management" title="Anger management">anger management</A>, <A href="/wiki/Mental_health" title="Mental health">mental health</A>, and so on, so when the offender completes the rehab or program he may be released upon request from authorities with a lower risk of <A href="/wiki/Recidivism" title="Recidivism">recidivism</A>. This process tries to combat the tendency of prisoners leaving incarceration after a long sentence to go back to offending in short order, without any attempt at correcting their ways.</P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Determinate_sentencing">Determinate sentencing</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Determinate sentencing">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>Those given short <A href="/wiki/Sentence_(law)" title="Sentence (law)">sentences</A> usually serve the full-time (do "day-for-day") as imposed by the <A href="/wiki/Judge" title="Judge">judge</A>, or might receive <A href="/wiki/Time_off_for_good_behavior" class="mw-redirect" title="Time off for good behavior">time off for good behavior</A>, based on state or local rules and regulations.</P>
<P>In the mid-1970s, most <A href="/wiki/State_prison" class="mw-redirect" title="State prison">state</A> and <A href="/wiki/Federal_prison" title="Federal prison">federal prisons</A> moved from long term to short term sentencing. Over time, though, state and federal authorities have gradually migrated their philosophies back toward long-term sentences. Many states use a mixture of the two; e.g., some offenders may receive sentences reduced by several months due to <A href="/wiki/Rehabilitation_(penology)" title="Rehabilitation (penology)">rehabilitation</A>, <A href="/wiki/Counseling" class="mw-redirect" title="Counseling">counseling</A>, and other programs, as well as good time.</P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Trends_in_sentencing_law">Trends in sentencing law</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Trends in sentencing law">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>Since the 1840s, many jurisdictions, including the federal courts, have adopted a practice of having a <A href="/wiki/Probation_officer" title="Probation officer">probation officer</A> prepare a <A href="/wiki/Presentence_investigation_report" title="Presentence investigation report">presentence investigation report</A> to inform the court as to the defendant's characteristics, including his criminal record, if any. In the 1970s, the length of incarceration had increased in response to the rising of crime rates in the United States. By the 1980s, state legislatures began to reduce judicial discretion in sentencing terms and conditions. This was especially true in cases of life imprisonment, which between 1992 and 2003 increased by 83% due to the implementation of <A href="/wiki/Three_strikes_law" class="mw-redirect" title="Three strikes law">three strikes laws</A>. Short term sentencing, mandatory minimums, and guideline-based sentencing began to remove the human element from sentencing. They also required the judge to consider the severity of a crime in determining the length of an offender's sentence.</P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Sentencing_of_Killers">Sentencing of Killers</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Sentencing of Killers">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>The United States does not have a specific guideline to sentencing murderers, including <A href="/wiki/Serial_killer" title="Serial killer">serial killers</A>. When a killer is apprehended, he will be charged with <A href="/wiki/Murder" title="Murder">murder</A>, and if convicted can get life in prison or receive the <A href="/wiki/Capital_punishment" title="Capital punishment">death penalty</A>, depending on in which state the murders took place. Generally speaking, each victim of a murder will merit a separate charge of murder against the offender, and as such, the killer could get a life sentence, a death sentence, or some other determinate or indeterminate sentence based upon the number of murders, the evidence presented, and any <A href="/wiki/Aggravating_factor" class="mw-redirect" title="Aggravating factor">aggravating</A> or <A href="/wiki/Mitigating_factor" title="Mitigating factor">mitigating circumstances</A> present. Such a compounded sentence may be tailored to run <A href="/wiki/Consecutive_sentencing" class="mw-redirect" title="Consecutive sentencing">consecutively</A>, with one sentence beginning after completion of another, or <A href="/wiki/Concurrent_sentence" class="mw-redirect" title="Concurrent sentence">concurrently</A>, where all or most of several sentences is served together.</P>
<P>Below are several examples of how a murderer may be sentenced, by state:</P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Arizona">Arizona</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Arizona">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In <A href="/wiki/Arizona" title="Arizona">Arizona</A>, a person is charged with murder if an offender knowingly and intentionally causes the death of a person or unborn child. The murder must be <A href="/wiki/Premeditated_murder" class="mw-redirect" title="Premeditated murder">premeditated</A>. If an individual is found guilty of murder, there are three possible sentences: 35 years to life, life without parole, or the death penalty.<SUP id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-3">[3]</A></SUP></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Florida">Florida</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Florida">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In <A href="/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</A>, a person is guilty of first degree murder when it is perpetrated from a premeditated design to result in the death of a <A href="/wiki/Human_being" class="mw-redirect" title="Human being">human being</A>. Murder is categorized as a <A href="/wiki/Capital_offense" class="mw-redirect" title="Capital offense">capital offense</A>; if convicted, the offender will receive either the death penalty or life in prison without parole. A unanimous vote of a twelve-person jury, is required to sentence a person to death if he is convicted of <A href="/wiki/Capital_murder" title="Capital murder">capital murder</A>.<SUP id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-4">[4]</A></SUP><SUP id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-5">[5]</A></SUP></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Hawaii">Hawaii</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Hawaii">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In <A href="/wiki/Hawaii" title="Hawaii">Hawaii</A>, a person is found guilty of second degree murder when they intentionally and knowingly cause the death of another person. If the person intentionally or knowingly kills more than one person, or kills a <A href="/wiki/Law_enforcement_officer" title="Law enforcement officer">law enforcement officer</A>, a judge, or a <A href="/wiki/Prosecutor" title="Prosecutor">prosecutor</A> in the line of, or as a result of, their duties, a witness to a crime, or a <A href="/wiki/Defendant" title="Defendant">defendant</A> to a corroborated crime, or if he hires another party to kill a certain individual, the person has met the criteria to be charged with first degree murder. The State of Hawaii has no death penalty. If they are found guilty, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment without parole.<SUP id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-6">[6]</A></SUP></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Louisiana">Louisiana</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Louisiana">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P><A href="/wiki/Louisiana" title="Louisiana">Louisiana</A> states that homicide in the first degree is killing of a human being with intent. There are other specific circumstances that may contribute, such as killing a police officer or firefighter. Either of these offenses, or the killing of more than one person, is an automatic first degree charge. Louisiana provides for life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty for murder.<SUP id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-7">[7]</A></SUP></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Michigan">Michigan</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Michigan">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In <A href="/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</A>, a person is found guilty of first degree murder when murder is perpetrated by means of poison, lying in wait, or any other willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing. In Michigan, first degree murder carries an automatic life sentence without parole.<SUP id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-8">[8]</A></SUP></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Nevada">Nevada</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Nevada">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In <A href="/wiki/Nevada" title="Nevada">Nevada</A> first degree murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought, either expressed or implied. If a killer is found guilty with aggravating circumstances, such as killing someone via torture or killing a stranger with no apparent motive, they may receive the death penalty, or life without parole.<SUP id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-9">[9]</A></SUP></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Washington">Washington</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Washington">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In the State of <A href="/wiki/Washington_(state)" title="Washington (state)">Washington</A>, a person is found guilty of first degree murder when there is a premeditated intent to cause the death of another person. Murder in the first degree is a class A felony.<SUP id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-10">[10]</A></SUP> If a person is convicted of first degree murder, he or she will receive a life sentence.<SUP id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-11">[11]</A></SUP> If an aggravating circumstance exists in addition to first degree murder, the defendant can be charged with <A href="/wiki/Aggravated_felony" title="Aggravated felony">aggravated</A> first-degree murder, which carries only two possible sentences: death or life without parole. Aggravating factors include the killing of a law enforcement officer, <A href="/wiki/Murder_for_hire" class="mw-redirect" title="Murder for hire">murder for hire</A>, or murder committed during the course of <A href="/wiki/Kidnapping" title="Kidnapping">kidnapping</A>, <A href="/wiki/Rape" title="Rape">rape</A>, <A href="/wiki/Robbery" title="Robbery">robbery</A>, <A href="/wiki/Burglary" title="Burglary">burglary</A>, or <A href="/wiki/Arson" title="Arson">arson</A>, or for <A href="/wiki/Multiple_murder" class="mw-redirect" title="Multiple murder">multiple murders</A>.<SUP id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><A href="#cite_note-12">[12]</A></SUP></P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Massachusetts">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<P>In Massachusetts, first degree murder is defined as killing a person with premeditated intent to kill. The only possible sentence for first degree murder is life in prison without parole. Massachusetts does not have the death penalty.</P>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: See also">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<UL>
<LI><A href="/wiki/History_of_mandatory_sentencing_in_the_United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="History of mandatory sentencing in the United States">History of mandatory sentencing in the United States</A></LI>
<LI><A href="/wiki/History_of_United_States_Prison_Systems" class="mw-redirect" title="History of United States Prison Systems">History of United States Prison Systems</A></LI>
<LI><A href="/wiki/United_States_constitutional_sentencing_law" title="United States constitutional sentencing law">United States constitutional sentencing law</A></LI>
<LI><A href="/wiki/Federal_Sentencing_Guidelines" class="mw-redirect" title="Federal Sentencing Guidelines">Federal Sentencing Guidelines</A></LI>
<LI><A href="/wiki/Taylor_v._United_States_(1990)" title="Taylor v. United States (1990)">Taylor v. United States</A></LI>
<LI><A href="/wiki/United_States_Sentencing_Commission" title="United States Sentencing Commission">United States Sentencing Commission</A></LI>
<LI><A href="/wiki/United_States_v._Booker" title="United States v. Booker">United States v. Booker</A></LI>
</UL>
<H2><SPAN class="mw-headline" id="References">References</SPAN><SPAN class="mw-editsection"><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</SPAN><A href="/w/index.php?title=Criminal_sentencing_in_the_United_States&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: References">edit</A><SPAN class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</SPAN></SPAN></H2>
<DIV class="reflist" style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<DIV class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns">
<OL class="references">
<LI id="cite_note-1"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-1"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation book">Van Zyl Smit, Dir (2002). <I>Taking Life Imprisionment Seriously in National and International Law</I>. The Hague: Brill.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.aufirst=Dir&rft.aulast=Van+Zyl+Smit&rft.btitle=Taking+Life+Imprisionment+Seriously+in+National+and+International+Law&rft.date=2002&rft.genre=book&rft.place=The+Hague&rft.pub=Brill&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-2"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-2"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text">Bureau of Justice Statistics, Compendium of Federal Justice Statistics 70, 75 tbl. 5.3 (2003).</SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-3"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-3"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation web"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.azleg.state.az.us/ars/13/01105.htm">"13-1105 - First degree murder; classification"</A>. Azleg.state.az.us<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">2010-07-01</SPAN></SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.btitle=13-1105+-+First+degree+murder%3B+classification&rft.genre=unknown&rft.pub=Azleg.state.az.us&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azleg.state.az.us%2Fars%2F13%2F01105.htm&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-4"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-4"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation web"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0782/SEC04.HTM&Title=-">>2009->Ch0782->Section%2004#0782.04 "The 2010 Florida Statutes"</A>. The Florida Senate<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">13 September</SPAN> 2010</SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.btitle=The+2010+Florida+Statutes&rft.genre=unknown&rft.pub=The+Florida+Senate&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flsenate.gov%2Fstatutes%2Findex.cfm%3FApp_mode%3DDisplay_Statute%26Search_String%3D%26URL%3DCh0782%2FSEC04.HTM%26Title%3D-%3E2009-%3ECh0782-%3ESection%252004%230782.04&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-5"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-5"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation web"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0775/Sec082.HTM">"Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes"</A>. flsenate.gov<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">2010-07-01</SPAN></SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.btitle=Statutes+%26+Constitution+%3AView+Statutes&rft.genre=unknown&rft.pub=flsenate.gov&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flsenate.gov%2Fstatutes%2Findex.cfm%3FApp_mode%3DDisplay_Statute%26Search_String%3D%26URL%3DCh0775%2FSec082.HTM&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-6"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-6"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation web"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol14_Ch0701-0853/HRS0707/HRS_0707-0701.htm">"House Bill"</A>. Capitol.hawaii.gov. 1987-01-01<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">2010-07-01</SPAN></SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.btitle=House+Bill&rft.date=1987-01-01&rft.genre=unknown&rft.pub=Capitol.hawaii.gov&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.capitol.hawaii.gov%2Fhrscurrent%2FVol14_Ch0701-0853%2FHRS0707%2FHRS_0707-0701.htm&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-7"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-7"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation journal"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=78397">"PART II. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON"</A>. Louisiana Legislature<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">2010-07-01</SPAN></SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.atitle=PART+II.+OFFENSES+AGAINST+THE+PERSON&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legis.state.la.us%2Flss%2Flss.asp%3Fdoc%3D78397&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-8"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-8"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation web"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(5be25y30dl5h5l55bobz0c45))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-750-316">"Michigan Legislature - Section 750.316"</A>. Legislature.mi.gov<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">2010-07-01</SPAN></SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.btitle=Michigan+Legislature+-+Section+750.316&rft.genre=unknown&rft.pub=Legislature.mi.gov&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legislature.mi.gov%2F%28S%285be25y30dl5h5l55bobz0c45%29%29%2Fmileg.aspx%3Fpage%3DgetObject%26objectName%3Dmcl-750-316&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-9"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-9"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation web"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-200.html#NRS200Sec010">"NRS: CHAPTER 200 - CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON"</A>. Leg.state.nv.us<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">2010-07-01</SPAN></SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.btitle=NRS%3A+CHAPTER+200+-+CRIMES+AGAINST+THE+PERSON&rft.genre=unknown&rft.pub=Leg.state.nv.us&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fleg.state.nv.us%2FNRS%2FNRS-200.html%23NRS200Sec010&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
<LI id="cite_note-10"><SPAN class="mw-cite-backlink"><B><A href="#cite_ref-10"><SPAN class="cite-accessibility-label">Jump up </SPAN>^</A></B></SPAN> <SPAN class="reference-text"><CITE class="citation web"><A rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.32.030">"RCW 9A.32.030: Murder in the first degree"</A>. Apps.leg.wa.gov<SPAN class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <SPAN class="nowrap">2010-07-01</SPAN></SPAN>.</CITE><SPAN title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACriminal+sentencing+in+the+United+States&rft.btitle=RCW+9A.32.030%3A+Murder+in+the+first+degree&rft.genre=unknown&rft.pub=Apps.leg.wa.gov&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fapps.leg.wa.gov%2Frcw%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fcite%3D9A.32.030&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"><SPAN style="display:none;"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></LI>
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