AC2.2 Flashcards
Discuss the aims of punishments
What are the aims of punishment
- retribution
- reparation
- deterrence
- rehabilitation
- public protection
What is retribution
retribution means ‘paying back’, inflicting punishment on an offender as vengeance for criminal act, criminals get ‘just desserts’, punishment should be in proportion with act committed
What is one criticism of retribution
sometimes offenders deserve forgiveness and a chance to change, not just punishment
What is rehabilitation
the idea that punishment can be used to change offenders so they live a crime free life, uses treatment programmes to change them e.g. anger management, drug treatment, education programmes
What is one criticism of rehabilitation
right realists argue that rehab has limited success, many offenders go onto reoffend
What is deterrence
- individual deterrence- uses punishment to put off the individual offender from reoffending, punishment show the offender the crime not worth the punishment
- general deterrence- aims at deterring society from breaking the law, if public sees someone being punished for crime, not going to commit themselves
What is one criticism of deterrence
about half of all prisoners reoffend within a year of release, shows prison no effective punishment
What is public protection
punishment may be used to protect the public from further offending, incapacitation removes the individuals physical capacity to offend again
e.g. long time ago, execution, chemical castration
What is one criticism of public protection
incapacitation is a strategy of risk management and does nothing to deal with causes of crime to change offenders into law abiding citizens
What is reparation
involves offender making amends for wrongdoing, whether to victim or society, harm done can be social or material
e.g. restorative justice, financial compensation unpaid work
What is one criticism of reparation
reparation may not work for all types of offences e.g. homicide victims
