AC 2.2 Flashcards
Name the aims of punishments
Retribution Rehabilitation Deterrence Public Protection Reparation
What is Retribution
Retribution is based on the idea that the defender deserves punishments to a level that is deserved and to ensure this retribution is supported by the sentencing council providing guidelines for courts on appopriate punishments, Punishments can be seen as a display of public revulsion for the offence, retribution contains an element of revenge for the victim and society being avenged for the wrong doing of the crime for example death penalty can be seen to fulfil a biblical expression of “an eye for an eye” or life for a life
What is Rehabilitation
The aim of rehabilitation is to reform offenders and reintroduce them into society by changing their mindsets so that future re offending can be prevented, this is also known as reformation. The aim of rehabilitation can be seen in community services or probation orders which can involve unpaid work, treatment for addictions such as drugs and alcohol.
What is deterrence
Deterrence aims to dissuade the offender or anyone in society from committing crime by a fear of punishment there are two types of deterrence induvidual and general
individual deterrence is the punishment imposed on offenders in order to deter or prevent them from committing further crimes, for example a suspended prison sentence or conditional discharge
General deterrence is the fear of punishment that prevents others from committing similar crimes for example a lengthy prisons sentence or heavy financial penalties these allow others to see the consequences and can be deterred from committing the same crime.
There are policies that do promote general deterrence which is known as “getting tough on crime”
these policies include mandatory minimums which is a life sentence for murder, 7 years for third drug offences.
Three stirkes and you are out- third conviction for a violent crime is likely to be punishable by life sentence (In USA)
What is Public Protection
Public protection is the idea that punishments must serve a useful purpose for society as a whole by protecting us from dangerous criminals, examples of public protection could be long prison sentences, curfew orders as it restricts when people can leave their home
What is reparation
Reparation is aiming the defendent pays back to the victim or society for the wrong doing, reparation involved compensating the victim of the crime usually by ordering the defendent to pay a sum of money to the victim, this concept includes making reperation to society by doing unpaid work in the community through a community order, restorative justice is also another way of reperation this is where offenders make direct reperation such as letters of apology, repairing damages
