Custodial Sentencing

Question 1

Aims of custodial sentencing

Answer 1

1. Deterrence - based on conditioning principles punishment/ vicarious p
   • individual deterrence - unpleasant exp of prison puts off emotion
   • general deterrence - send msg to society crime won’t be tolerated
2. Incapacitation - removed from society
   • depends on crime severity
3. Retribution - society enacting revenge by mailing offender suffer
   • level of suffering should be proportionate to crime severity
4. Rehabilitation - reform of offender
   • prison should provide opportunities to develop skills & reflect on the crime

Question 2

Psychological effects of custodial sentencing

Answer 2

1. Stress & depression
   - suicide rates are higher in prison
2. Institutionalisation
   - inability to function outside of prison after adapting norms
3. Prisonisation
   - behaviours unacceptable outside prison are encouraged via socialisation to an inmate code

Question 3

Recidivism

Answer 3

• Recidivism refers to reoffending
• 45% of UK offenders reoffend within a year
• rates vary w age, crime committed & country
• norways significance due to their emphasis on rehabilitation & skills development not incarceration

Question 4

Limitation
- negative effects

Answer 4

Bartol
• prison is “brutal, demeaning & generally devastating” suicide rate in E+W prisons are AX higher than gen pop
• prison reform trust found 25% women + 15% men in prison reported symptoms of psychosis

Question 5

Strength
- prison provides training & treatment

Answer 5

• Vera institute of Justice claim offenders who participate in college education are 43% less likely to reoffend
• increase employment opportunities

Question 6

Limitation
- prison may be school for crime

Answer 6

• incarceration w long term offenders may give younger offender inmates the chance to learn tricks