AC2.2 - Aims of Punishment

Question 1

What is retribution?

Answer 1

Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act

Question 2

What is an eye for an eye?

Answer 2

Punishment should be seen as revenge and the vritims are being avenged for the wrong done to them

Question 3

What is just desserts?

Answer 3

Defines justice in terms of fairness and proportionality

Question 4

Why is retribution an expressive view?

Answer 4

Expressive rather than instrumental view of punishent, expressing society’s outrage

Question 5

How does retribution show public revuslion?

Answer 5

Punishment can be seen as a display of public revulsion for the offence

Question 6

Why is retribution a backwards thinking aim?

Answer 6

Does not seek to alter future behaviour, merely to inflict punishmnet in proportion to the offence

Question 7

What are examples of retribution?

Answer 7

• Hate crime - hostility based on race, religion, disability etc. carry an uplift which is expression of society’s outrage
• Public order - receive longer sentences for crimes if conducted during or pat of certain events (London riots)

Question 8

What is the theory link of retribution?

Answer 8

Right realism - criminals make rational choice to commit crime. Have full responsibility

Question 9

What is rehabilitation?

Answer 9

Action of restoring someone to health or normal life through training and therapy after imprisonment

Question 10

What is the aim of rehabilitation?

Answer 10

Reform offenders and reintroduce then back into society

Question 11

Why is retribution a forwards looking aim?

Answer 11

Hope that the offender’s behaviour will be altered and they will not reoffend

Question 12

How does rehabilitation require free will?

Answer 12

Based on the belief that the defendant can actually do something about their offending - not determined by forces they cannot change

Question 13

How does rehabilitation effect re-offending?

Answer 13

Without it, offending will only get worse. Offenders will fall back into crime if not properly rehabilitated.

Question 14

How does rehabilitation treat causes of crime?

Answer 14

Using services and offenders can be reformed

Question 15

What support does rehabilitation require?

Answer 15

Support from different agencies due to wide range of type of offenders that must be dealt with within the service

Question 16

What are examples of rehabilitation?

Answer 16

• Education programmes - part of prison service may include unpaid work or completion of a education programme (Clink restaurant)
• Anger management - aimed at more violent offenders - may be used to get early release (Damien Hanson)

Question 17

What theory supports rehabilitation?

Answer 17

Individualistic - token economies directly tied to behaviourist work of Skinner and Bandura

Question 18

What is deterrence?

Answer 18

Discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of consequences

Question 19

What is the aim of deterrence?

Answer 19

Deter individuals or general society from commiting crimes or further crimes

Question 20

How does deterrence have certainty of punishment?

Answer 20

Requires need to increase likelihood of catching and punishing. Without this, the public or the offender will keep committing crimes

Question 21

How does the severity of crime lead to deterrence?

Answer 21

An offender knowing that they would face the death penalty for an offence should be deterred from said offence

Question 22

What are the two types of deterrence?

Answer 22

• General - deter society in general. The public will see the potential consequence of certain actions so ar deterred (London riots)
• Individual - deter a set individual. Threat from society (suspended sentence)

Question 23

What theory links with deterrence?

Answer 23

Social learning - prisons are universities of crime so prisoners learn how to commit crimes from others

Question 24

What is public protection?

Answer 24

Keeping the public safe from harm or injury

Question 25

How does incapacitation protect the public? Types?

Answer 25

Used to stop offenders further offending
- Historically - execution
- Modern - chemical castration

Question 26

Why does public protection require larger prisons?

Answer 26

Offenders would have longer sentences to provide greater protection

Question 27

What does public protection focus on?

Answer 27

Protect society - victim focussed

Question 28

What are examples of protecting the public?

Answer 28

Tagging
Limits locations. Government plans on tagging migrants making it easier to deport those entering the country illegally

Refusal of bail
Many are refused bail is seen too dangerous (Colin Stagg)

Question 29

What theory links to public protection?

Answer 29

Biological - argue people are born criminal which cannot be changed so needs to be incapacitated

Question 30

What is denunciation?

Answer 30

Society expressing its disapproval of criminal activity

Question 31

How does denunciation reinforce moral boundaries?

Answer 31

Reminds society on what is correct behaviour

Question 32

What does denunciation focus on?

Answer 32

Demonstrates to law abiding citizens that behaviour which is being punished is unacceptable

Question 33

What are types of denunciation?

Answer 33

Instrumental
Form of education in that punishment reinforces the collective conscience of society (Durkheim)

Expressive
Punishment is justified because it expresses society’s abhorrence or crime. Does not look forward as it does not tru to change anyones behaviour

Question 34

What are examples of denunciation?

Answer 34

Serious offences
Rochdale - faves of offenders were put on front pages of many newspapers

Celebrity status
Allows for wider public awareness of their actions (Jimmy Saville)

Question 35

What theory links to denunciation?

Answer 35

Functionalism - Durkheim

Question 36

What are reparations?

Answer 36

Action of making ammends for a wrong act.
Can be by providing payment or other assistance

Question 37

What is the aim of reparation?

Answer 37

Punishment should compensate the victim of a crime

Question 38

What are reparation variants?

Answer 38

A public apology including acceptance of responsibility
Commemorations and tributes to victims
Potential fine

Question 39

How do reparations vary?

Answer 39

Vary on type of crime committed. If COVID-19 rules broken a public apology may be suitable however for other serious crimes a larger fine may be needed

Question 40

What are examples of reparations?

Answer 40

Restorative justice
Offender will spend some time with the victim/family to repair social damage

Question 41

What theory links to reparations?

Answer 41

Left realism - provides tactical measured to reduce crime and produce a long term change