evaluation of community sentences Flashcards
Advantages of custodial sentences
.punishment suits the offence .a deterrent .stops prison population rising .benefit community .flexible to the offender
Disadvantages of custodial sentences
.ineffective .fines are classist .not harsh enough .don't turn up .hard to police curfews
Why is it good that the punishment suits the offence?
Because that means the offender is punished to the right degree. It would be unfair for a litterer to be given mandatory life for littering. Custodial sentences are good for less serious offences
Why is it good that they are a deterrent?
Because it means they are an inconvenience so people will be careful of their speed to avoid attending a course etc. They are off putting
Why is it good that they stop the prison population from rising?
It’s already too high and struggling to cope so less people in prisons is cheaper and better. It also means people arent brought into prison gangs for unwarranted reasons
Why is it good that they benefit the community?
Because something good comes from the offence. The community benefits from free labour that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to pay to have done. It gives back
Why is it good that it’s flexible to the offender?
Offenders can sometimes choose which community sentence to receive. For example, you can choose a course over points on your license. It encourages rehabilitation. It also means offenders are more likely to turn up.
Why is it bad that they are ineffective?
Because they don’t work and people will only reoffend
Why is it bad that fines are classist?
Because it is not an equal punishment. The rich are able to pay fines easily whereas the poor cannot manage to pay them. They are an ineffective punishment
Why is it bad that they aren’t harsh enough?
People see it as getting off easy and this is often seen as a safety net. For example, people will not be put off speeding because of a one day course as it was not really a punishment, just an inconvenience. People will reoffend
Why is it bad that people don’t turn up?
Because community services are under funded so offenders who don’t show often can’t be brought in o do the sentence they were meant to serve
Why is it bad that it’s hard to police curfews?
Because it means that some punishments are even ess harsh than they originally appear due to the lack of ability to monitor whether or not the offence is being adhered to
