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The analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, collected in five different criminal courts, highlights how sentencing may rely on the categorization of suspects. Depending on the kind of criminal proceedings being used and the offenders’ group to which the suspect is deemed to belong, a certain type of sanctions may be applied. Both procedural and substantive, this categorization seems quite clear as far as probation is concerned. Probation is one of the most often imposed sanctions, both at the regional and national level. Often related to probation, the normalizing effects may be limited when it comes to carrying out the sentences.