Think one the greatest differences between UK (Europe) and the US is that the US sees prison time more as a punishment whereas in the UK is seen more as a time for reflection and rehabilitation.(Hug a Hoodie)
Another factor and probably a big one is that our Judges are elected at local county level, any Judge who wants to serve at a higher grade knows he/she had better win a couple of elections if he wants to get noticed and move up to State level, and you don't get elected by being soft . Even Judges appointed to the California Supreme Court have to come before the voters every few years for re-confirmation ,I remember a few years back Chief Justice Rose Byrd was kicked off the bench by California voters because she consistantly refused to uphold the Death penalty which is part of our legal code.
Sentencing here in the US is as topsy-turvy as it seems to be in the UK , 51 different legal codes (one for each State plus the Federal system) you can be guilty in one State for something complety legal in another. Probably the dumbest example off the top of my head is that in Texas you are not allowed to own 'penetrative' sex toys (mechanical or otherwise) , punishable by a fine for ownership , jail time for selling them .
The legal drinking age is another , this used to be determined by each State 18 in some 21 in others , 17 for beer in others , then the Feds (Washington DC) under pressure from a group called MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and the Department of Transportation issued an edict Blackmail) ... no more Federal money for States which refused to raise the drinking age to 21
Rant.. (No matter that many of the young kids serving overseas in the military are under 21, they can get blown up lose a limb but can't expect a party at the local bar when they come home, and if they have a "family house party" and the cops are called because of noise the parents get cited (fined) for providing alcohol to minors) ok rant over
