AC 2.3 - Imprisonment meeting Aims of Punishment

Question 1

What is Imprisonment? (3 points)

Answer 1

• A legal penalty imposed by a court that involves imprisonment of an individual
• Involves a convicted person being sent to prison for a specified period of time
• Typically reserved for more serious offences, such as indictable offences - E.G. murder & rape

Question 2

What is a Determinate Sentence? (1 point)

Answer 2

• Held in custody for a fixed length of time (E.G. 5 years)

Question 3

What is an Indeterminate Sentence? (1 point)

Answer 3

• Does not have a fixed length of time. There is no set date for release

Question 4

What is a Short-term sentence? (1 point)

Answer 4

• A determinate sentence lasting less than 12 months

Question 5

What is a Whole Life Tariff? (1 point)

Answer 5

• The offender will never be released from prison, except in exceptional compassionate circumstances

Question 6

What is a Suspended sentence? (2 point)

Answer 6

• Served in the community instead of prison
• Conditions are set, and if broken, the offender is immediately sent to prison

Question 7

How does Imprisonment meet the aim of Retribution? (2 points)

Answer 7

• Loss of Freedom
• Suffering and Hardship

Question 8

How does Imprisonment FAIL meet the aim of Retribution? (2 points)

Answer 8

• Unduly Harsh sentences: E.G. In 2020, 44% of custodial sentences were 6 months or less
• Unduly Lenient sentences: E.G. In 2021, 106 offenders had their sentences increased for being too low

Question 9

How does Imprisonment meet the aim of Rehabilitation? (3 points)

Answer 9

• Education: E.G. ‘Learning Together’
• Training Programmes: E.G. ‘Virgin Trains Scheme’
• Wellbeing Programmes: E.G. Counselling, Therapy, Drug treatment

Question 10

How does Imprisonment FAIL to meet the aim of Rehabilitation? (2 points)

Answer 10

• Low Quality Education: In 2020, Ofsted reported 2/3’s of inspections were poor quality of education
• Recidivism Rates: AVG rate of reoffending is 42% within 12 months of release - increases to 62 for ST sentences

Question 11

How does Imprisonment meet the aim of Deterrence? (2 points)

Answer 11

• Fear of Punishment
• Recidivism Rates: 58% of prisoners aren’t reconvicted within 12 months

Question 12

How does Imprisonment FAIL to meet the aim of Deterrence? (2 points)

Answer 12

• Prison Population: Has risen by 80% within the last 30 years
• Unduly Lenient sentences: E.G. the suspended sentence given to Lavinia Woodward

Question 13

How does Imprisonment meet the aim Public Protection? (2 points)

Answer 13

• Incapicitation
• Whole-Life Tariffs: Currently 67 under whole-life tariff and a further 4 in secure hospitals

Question 14

How does Imprisonment FAIL to meet the aim of Public Protection? (2 points)

Answer 14

• Short-term Protection: In 2023, the average was 20.3 months
• Average ‘Life’ sentence: On average, murders serve 16.5 yrs before released into the community

Question 15

How does Imprisonment meet the aim of Reparation? (1 point)

Answer 15

• Prisons’ Earnings Act 2011: Prisoners are permitted to work outside have a proportion of their earnings go towards Victim Support Services

Question 16

How does Imprisonment FAIL to meet the aim of Reparation? (1 point)

Answer 16

• Unduly Lenient sentences: Offenders do not ‘repay their debt to society

Question 17

How does Imprisonment meet the aim of Denunciation? (1 point)

Answer 17

• Public Visibility: Especially for high-profile cases, the public’s awareness of consequences are reinforced

Question 18

How does Imprisonment FAIL to meet the aim of Denunciation? (1 point)

Answer 18

• Inconsistencey in Sentencing: Unequal sentencing for similar crimes can undermine the denunciation of criminal behaviour