Summary and Conclusions

Abstract

The preceding analyses of felony sentencing demonstrate that criminal sentencing is a complex and multifaceted process. In summarizing the results of these analyses and commenting on their significance, it is helpful to draw an analogy with the theater.¹ Anyone who has ever attended a play, musical, or ballet is aware of the importance of spotlights. To highlight an individual or group of performers, theater technicians use a variety of lights. When focusing on an individual or scene, all beams are concentrated in what appears to be a single light so as to direct the audience’s attention. It is neither possible nor desirable to rely on a single spotlight for this effect because the resulting illumination would obviously fall far short of the effect of several beams combined as one.