Deterrence - AC2.2 (Aims of Punishments)

Question 1

What does deterrence mean?

Answer 1

Put someone off doing it by scaring them of the consequences of being caught

Question 2

What does individual deterrence mean?

Answer 2

Deterring someone to re-offend (didn’t like the punishment the first time so not worth re-offending)

Question 3

How does individual deterrence influence the ‘prison works’ argument?

Answer 3

If sentences and prison is bad enough then people won’t re-offend as they don’t want to go back

BUT…some enjoy the social side of prison and the fact it is a warm place with food and a bed

Question 4

In the 1980’s, which policy did Margret Thatchers administration use for individual deterrence?

Answer 4

A juvenile detention system to give young offenders a ‘short, sharp shock’ by using an army-style discipline style

Question 5

What does general deterrence mean?

Answer 5

Aims to stop society from offending in the first place

Question 6

How does general deterrence work/how are people deterred in the first place?

Answer 6

The public sees offenders punished and don’t want to experience what they have and make examples of offenders

Question 7

In present day, how are people used as an example with general deterrence?

Answer 7

Media = present them as evil and writes about crime frequently

Question 8

What is the difference between severity and certainty?

Answer 8

Severity = unlikely to be deterred as little chance of being caught
Certainty = if certain to get caught then won’t do it even with small sentence (e.g. speeding cameras)

Question 9

Which theories link to deterrence?

Answer 9

1. Right Realism
   - Rational Choice theory = people weigh up costs before deciding (punishment + certainty of being caught = high deterrence)
   - Situational Learning theory = makes committing crimes harder and leads to higher deterrence
2. Social Learning Theory
   - If a person saw a role model punished they are less likely to imitate the behavior

Question 10

What criticisms are there of deterrence?

Answer 10

1. No evidence that ‘short, sharp shocks work’ as 50% of people re offend in a year
2. Deterrence assumes we know all punishments but most people are oblivious to them
3. Deterrence assumes that offenders act rationally whilst some act irrationally and driven by emotions
4. Breaking laws which are seen as unjust is difficult to deter