THE duty of sentencing is so subjective, yet anguish provoking, that I fear it is almost impertinent for me to make any observations about the sentencing process. I propose therefore to confine myself to some aspects of sentencing and perhaps some aspects of parole. I can touch only upon basic principles and in so doing hope not to be so general as to say nothing, nor so particular as to descend into trivia or be guilty of the lawyer’s crime of obfuscation. The sentencing process is but justice in action. Justice was one of the four cardinal virtues, the others were, of course, prudence, fortitude and temperance. In Plato’s ideal city it is Justice that regulates the actions of its citizens, both socially and individually, and underlies the harmonious working of the other three virtues! Hence the figure of Justice is commonly seen on public buildings wherever the law is administered as a female blindfolded figure, sword in one hand, scales in the other. The sword is the emblem of her power, the scales signify her impartiality. Likewise, the blindfolding relates to impartiality. I digress to ponder why Justice, which should be known for her clear sightedness, should be symbolised by a blindfolded female figure. The administration of justice in the sentencing role should therefore be a simple process and so it used to be. The scales of justice weighed the moral and social gravity of the crime and her sword was swift to inflict the inevitable capital punishment. It is well to remember apart from death the severity of punishments throughout the ages for relatively minor crimes, and it is well to remember how far we have come in the business of punishment. We no longer have, for instance, the cruel variety of punishments. The ghastly forms have given way to the pressures of humanity. In the English lexicon of punishment it was not until 1814 that disembowelling and burning were abolished. The last beheading took place in 1820. It was not until 1870 that drawing and quartering as a form of punishment was abolished. Women were not disembowelled for treason, they were liable to be burned instead-that is until 1814 The bodies of pirates generally hung in chains on the banks of rivers until the law was altered in 1834. In 1811 a Bill was introduced into the House of Lords to take away the punishment of death for the offence of stealing in a dwelling house to the value of 40 shillings. Lord Eldon opposed “this dangerous Bill” and it was, of course, thrown out in the