Abstract

In this paper the role of a sociologist/criminologist as a mitigation expert in a case of double murder is examined. The defendant was a young black male defendant. The victims were his 8-month pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child. The defendant was born into terrible social circumstances; including five generations of violence; sexual abuse; incarcerated; and neglect. The circumstances of his tragic life leading up to the murder is presented as mitigation. The author of this paper has worked as a sociologist/ mitigation expert for almost 30 years in over 300 sentencing hearings/penalty phases most of which were capital murder but have also included manslaughter, habitual offenders, Miller cases; and other cases of violent crimes where the sentence is plastic. The utility of sociology in criminal cases in general is discussed.

中文翻译：

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凶手的减刑

摘要

本文探讨了社会学家/犯罪学家作为减刑专家在双重谋杀案中的作用。被告是一名年轻的黑人男性被告。受害者是他怀孕8个月的女友和未出生的孩子。被告出生在恶劣的社会环境中；包括五代人的暴力；性虐待; 被监禁；和忽视。他导致谋杀的悲惨生活的情况被描述为缓和。本文作者作为社会学家/减刑专家工作了近 30 年，参与过 300 多个量刑听证会/刑罚阶段，其中大部分是死刑谋杀案，但也包括过失杀人、惯犯、米勒案件；以及其他可塑性刑罚的暴力犯罪案件。讨论了社会学在刑事案件中的一般用途。