Sentencing FIrst Offenders in Botswana

Abstract

It is intended by this paper to explore among other things, the objectives of sentencing, the types of sentences, the determination of these types of sentences and what factors to consider in sentencing a first offender. Uncertainty is deep seated in the sentencing process.1 As put by an American judge, "a large number of persons accused of crimes are often at a loss when brought before the courts of the land, whether they would go free, be locked in or anything in between." An attempt has been made in this paper to shed some light to those who for the first time will find themselves faced with such a problem.