7.7 Forensics - Dealing with offending behaviour: Custodial Sentencing

Question 1

Custodial Sentencing

Answer 1

Offender punished by serving prison time or in another closed institution, the length of this is determined by a court.

Question 2

Aims of custodial sentencing

Answer 2

• Deterrence
• Incapacitation
• Retribution
• Rehabilitation

Question 3

Deterrence

Answer 3

the threat of unpleasant experiences prevent some from committing certain crimes and stops people from committing the same crime twice as they know what will happen to them

Question 4

Incapacitation

Answer 4

Taking offenders out of society to prevent re-offending and to protect the public in future. Usually used for dangerous criminals such as terrorists

Question 5

Retribution

Answer 5

Society enacting revenge for a crime via punishment and making the offender suffer directly in relation to the severity of their crime based on the idea of ‘eye for an eye’

Question 6

Rehabilitation

Answer 6

the reforming of a character due to offenders receiving punishment and therefore changing their behaviour as they realise the impact allowing them to enact an adjusted role in society

Question 7

Psychological Effects of Custodial Sentencing

Answer 7

• De-individualisation
• Overcrowding
• Prisonisation
• Anxiety/Depression
• Institutionalisation

Question 8

De-individualisation

Answer 8

: A loss of self, person no longer takes responsibility of their own actions, they simply see themselves as a prisoner

Question 9

Overcrowding

Answer 9

Prisoners are kept together in very harsh conditions leading to brutalization and allowing for normal criminals to become hardened criminals

Question 10

Prisonisation

Answer 10

Culture and social-life of prison becomes accepted leading to an acceptance of habits and behaviors that are considered inappropriate in the outside world

Question 11

Anxiety/Depression

Answer 11

Suicide in prison is much higher, often upon leaving offenders are unable to cope in the world of employment and life in general so these symptoms peak. 1/3 of deaths in prison are from suicide, often caused by a loss of contact with the outside world

Question 12

Institutionalisation

Answer 12

The life of prison becomes accepted which makes life on the outside difficult for when criminals get out, leading to high re-offending rates due to stress from the outside world.

Question 13

Recidivism

Answer 13

Re-offending of criminals, nearly half of criminals are convicted again within one year

Question 14

The problem of recidivism

Answer 14

Based on recidivism, prisons do not rehabilitate effectively, minister of justice found lower re-offending rates for those who received support for education however the number of people receiving this is low due to cuts.