deterrence

Question 1

describe the aim of deterrence

Answer 1

Prevention of reoffending
The aim is intended to ensure that the offender does not re-offend, through fear of future punishment

Deterrence can be either individual or general.

Individual deterrence
The aim of individual deterrence is to ensure the offender does not reoffend. A suspended sentence is an example of individual deterrence.

General deterrence
This aims to make an example of an offender in order to warn other potential offenders of the type of punishment they face.
For example: In 2011, many custodial offences were given for relatively minor theft offences that occurred during the London riots. The courts wished to send a clear message to others that committing offences during the riots would be given severe sentences

Today the public are more likely to learn about the costs of offending form the media.

Question 2

punishments that meet deterrence

Answer 2

Prison sentences

Fines

Long sentence as an example to others

Points on licence

Disqualification from driving

Banning orders

Suspended sentences (individual deterrent)

Question 3

links to unit 2 criminological theories

Answer 3

Social learning theorists would suggest that prison sentences are not deterring individuals from committing further offences. They highlight high reoffending rates and suggest that prisons act as universities of crime, in which offenders learn from other offenders how to commit more crime

Marxist theorists would argue that harsh sentences will be issued to working class offenders as they are a means to control.