California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Crenshaw, 177 Cal.App.3d 259, 222 Cal.Rptr. 824 (Cal. App. 1986):
"Penal Code section 12 imposes a duty upon the sentencing court to impose the punishment prescribed by law. (In re Sandel (1966) 64 Cal.2d 412, 415 [50 Cal.Rptr. 462, 412 P.2d 806].) A sentencing court has no discretion to deviate from the punishment prescribed by statute. [Citations omitted.]" (People v. Lara, supra, 155 Cal.App.3d at p. 574, 202 Cal.Rptr. 262.)
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