A determinate sentence is one in which the law specifies imprisonment duration. The law defines a range of definite sentences that the judge can issue, upon considering the circumstances of the crime. An example is a law that penalizes heavily anyone convicted of a second felony. These sentences are mostly employed in the war against drugs and crime. An indeterminate sentence on the other hand has no fixed duration.
The convict does not know exactly when they will be released (VanDervort, 2000). Such a sentence would be stated as 4 to 10 years. The actual number of years served depends on the convict’s behavior. If he behaves well, the parole board reduces the sentence. Mandatory sentences are those explicitly spelled out by the law. The judge has no power to change any part of the sentence to suit the offender.
The sentencing of celebrities and common people is similar. In my opinion, the justice system does not discriminate against the people in the limelight. I would consider the case of Paris Hilton who was sentenced to 45 days in jail. This punishment was fair considering the misdemeanors she had been engaged in. The celebrity also violated the terms of her parole.
References
Abadinsky, H. (2006). Law and Justice: An Introduction to the American Legal System. New York: Prentice Hall.
Calvi, J. V., & Coleman, S. (2000). American Law and Legal Systems. Toronto: Prentice Hall.
VanDervort, T. (2000). American Law and the Legal System: Equal Justice under the Law. Chicago: Delmar Cengage Learning.