Public Protection

Question 1

What is public protection?

Answer 1

• Removing offenders physical ability to offend through incapacitation.
• E.g. death penalty, chemical castration, tagging etc.

Question 2

What theories link to public protection?

Answer 2

• Lombroso argues that criminals are biologically different so it’s no possible to rehabilitate. They should be banished in islands away from the public.
• Biological theories favour castration so they can’t produce children with the same criminal genetics.
• Right realists believe incapacitation protects the public from harm.

Question 3

What are the criticisms of public protection?

Answer 3

• Leads to longer sentences which leads to high costs.
• Doesn’t deal with causes for crime.
• Assumes they will commit a crime in the future.