Cal. Rules of Court, rule 4.410 · Division 5. Felony Sentencing Law
General objectives in sentencing
Text — As posted by the Judicial Council of California (read October 22, 2026)
(a) General objectives of sentencing include:
(1) Protecting society;
(2) Punishing the defendant;
(3) Encouraging the defendant to lead a law-abiding life in the future and deterring him or her from future offenses;
(4) Deterring others from criminal conduct by demonstrating its consequences;
(5) Preventing the defendant from committing new crimes by isolating him or her for the period of incarceration;
(6) Securing restitution for the victims of crime;
(7) Achieving uniformity in sentencing; and
(8) Increasing public safety by reducing recidivism through community-based corrections programs and evidence-based practices.
(b) Because in some instances these objectives may suggest inconsistent dispositions, the sentencing judge must consider which objectives are of primary importance in the particular case. The sentencing judge should be guided by statutory statements of policy, the criteria in these rules, and any other facts and circumstances relevant to the case.
Notes and commentary — not rule text
History
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2017; previously amended effective July 1, 2003, ad January 1, 2007.)
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2018; previously lettered effective July 1, 2003; adopted as part of unlettered subd effective July 1, 1977; former subd (b) amended and relettered as part of subd (a) effective July 1, 2003.)
Rule 4.410 amended effective January 1, 2018; adopted as rule 410 effective July 1, 1977; previously renumbered effective January 1, 2001; previously amended effective July 1, 2003, January 1, 2007, and January 1, 2017.
Advisory Committee Comment
Statutory expressions of policy include:
Section 1170(a)(1), which expresses the policies of uniformity, proportionality of terms of imprisonment to the seriousness of the offense, and the use of imprisonment as punishment. It also states that "the purpose of sentencing is public safety achieved through punishment, rehabilitation, and restorative justice."
Sections 17.5, 1228, and 3450, which express the policies promoting reinvestment of criminal justice resources to support community-based corrections programs and evidence-based practices to improve public safety through a reduction in recidivism.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As posted by the Judicial Council of California (read October 22, 2026)
- Official file
- https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/four/rule4_410
- Text hash
- sha256 83a4349d9f1d89491d5ecba46f5f431463880f13dced39dbf1cb00b41b64f851
- Composed by
- compose_crc.py 2026-10-22: the Judicial Council's rule pages read paragraph by paragraph; verify_crc.py's second reading of the Council's per-title PDFs finds every paragraph
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.