The United States criminal justice system will determine the criminal punishment based on the perpetrator's type of crime, mental state, age and criminal record at the time the crime is committed. The perpetrator's willingness to cooperate with law enforcement can also affect punishment. There is a variety of means that the criminal justice system will use to punish people who are convicted of criminal acts
The Justice system has different punishments put in place to accomplish different goals. Some of the reasons for punishment are to deter further crime, get restitution to the victim of the crime, to get retribution and provide a balance in justice, and incapacitation of the criminal so they cannot commit other crimes.
There are guidlines set in place by the United States Sentencing comission that outlines the factors in which a Federal Judge uses to sentence the accused.