Crim Law Background Flashcards
Criminal punishment requires the ___
capacity to make moral choices
Potential goals of crim law
prevent harm, punish
two theories of punishment
utiliatarian, retribution
How is system of cultural meaning in crim law not monolithic?
(1) changes over time (2) same culture may have conflicting values (3) subcultures [US multiculturalism]
Retributionists think crime and punishment must ___ examples include___
match, murder for life fine for jaywalking
Retribution theory focuses on __
blameworthiness/moral culpbability
Retribution is about choosing ____ over ___
state monopoly on violence, vengeance
Retribution has ____ for the social good
no consideration
Retribution is __ looking
backwards
Utilitarianism is ___ looking and wants to ___
forward, create good outcomes
Three different utilitarian ideas
deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation
Deterrence aims to prevent crime by ___
threatening unpleasant consequences
What is general deterrence?
deter general public from committing crime
What is specific deterrence?
deter one criminal from committing more crimes
For deterrence theory to work, criminals must consider ___
punishment vs. probability of conviction BEFORE committing a crime
Deterrence approach to child porn
life sentence for child porn (prob low so punishment must be high)
For deterrence punishment ____ the crime
need not match
Incapacitation theory idea
remove person to protect society (usually incarceration)
Incapacitation is interested in targeting ___
repeat offenders
For incapacitation punishment ___ the crime
need not match
Rehabilitation philosophy
everyone capable of being reformed so goal to provide personalized treatment
Problems with rehabilitation
people may not reform, it’s expensive, victims may not support it