AC2.2 Aims of Punishment Flashcards
What is retribution?
Based on the idea that offenders deserve punishment, containing an element of revenge and the victim is avenged. It does not seek to alter future behaviour and provides an appropriate punishment to provide justice for both the defendant and victim. It is a backwards looking theory and includes punishments such as mandatory life sentences and increased punishment for crimes with a hate motive.
Give three key terms for retribution
Eye for an eye Revenge Just desserts Right realism Backwards-looking Mandatory life sentences
What is rehabilitation?
The idea that offenders are able to change their attitudes towards criminality, attempts to reform offenders and reintroduce them into society. Punishments include community sentences, probation orders that may include unpaid work or drug treatment programmes. It presumes that criminal behaviour is an act of free will. It relates to individualistic theories, the idea that treatment can reform offenders, such as behaviour modification treatment to distinguish undesirable behaviours.
What is deterrence?
Individual: To ensure the offender does not reoffend, a suspended sentence where the offender is threatened with a furthered sentence should they reoffend. This relates to the Social Learning Theory, as it can account for criminality as criminals learn behaviour from fellow prisoners whilst in prison. The Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile 2017 claims prisoners do not seem to be deterred from committing crimes by the possibility of imprisonment.
General: To prevent potential offenders, the impact of a sentence with a deterrent element is weakened by the fact that it is not happening to them. they are also not always aware of the punishment such as the 2011 London Riots. It relates to the Marxism theory as they are likely to view criminality and punishments as inevitable in a capitalist society. They are sentences given to control the working class who are heavily policed compared to the upper class.
What is public protection?
The idea that punishment must serve a useful purpose in society by protecting us from dangerous persons. A long sentence is an example of this and curfew orders. It relates to right realism as they view that a sentence is needed to protect the public as social constraints are weaker.
What is reparation?
Involves compensating the victim, usually by ordering the offender to pay a sum of money to them, or to society through community order. There are also an increasing number of themes such as writing a letter of apology or face-to-face meetings, known as restorative justice. Relates to left realism as it provides practical measure to reduce crime and can produce long term change to a more equal and caring society.
