Discharge (sentence)

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/discharge--sentence-

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the judicial power?Judges possess the discretion to impose a discharge, bypassing traditional sentencing
2. What is a discharge in a court case?A discharge is when a judge decides not to give a punishment even though a crime happened. It can be absolute or conditional.
3. How is an absolute discharge different from a conditional discharge?An absolute discharge means no punishment and no record of a conviction. A conditional discharge lets the person go free but must follow rules, and if they break them, they can be punished later.

Judicial Discretion: The power of judges to make decisions based on their own judgment within the bounds of the law.
Collateral Consequences: Negative outcomes that follow a criminal conviction, beyond the direct punishment imposed by the court.
Restorative Justice: A philosophy of justice that focuses on repairing harm and involving all stakeholders in the resolution process.