1. Factors Influencing Sentencing Decisions: Examine the diverse factors that influence sentencing decisions, including the nature and severity of the offense, offender characteristics, victim impact statements, mitigating and aggravating factors, and sentencing alternatives. How do contextual factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and systemic disparities impact sentencing outcomes and contribute to inequalities within the criminal justice system? Provide examples from research literature or real-world cases to illustrate the complexities of sentencing decision-making.