Lack of consensus about sentencing white-collar criminals

Lack of consensus about sentencing white-collar criminals

One reason why computer crime sentences are light is that the novelty of computer crime has left courts without precedents to guide them in determining effective punishments for computer criminals. The field of sentencing white collar criminals has been open to dispute and debate for some time.FN76 In fact, there is available authority that jail sentences are not effective as a punishment or for deterrence.FN77 Consequently, the prosecutor should be reminded that there is a wealth of information and argument, which, if presented to the court, is likely to persuade it to punish the defendant lightly.