Purposes of Criminal Law

Question 1

General Deterrence

Answer 1

society will benefit by deterring others from committing crimes in the future. Others will realize the seriousness of society’s determination to punish and otters will be deterred from committing future crimes.

Question 2

Specific Deterrence

Answer 2

punishment will achieve specific deterrence of individual wrongdoers, with regard to their criminal conduct in the future. Through punishment, the wrongdoer will learn to recognize the potential consequences of his or her own conduct and, accordingly will desist from engaging in criminal behavior.

Question 3

Restraint

Answer 3

that criminal punishment is appropriate because criminals should be isolated or otherwise confined in order to prevent them from doing further harm.

Question 4

Rehabilitation

Answer 4

criminals can be cured or otherwise changed for better during incarceration and then returned to society no longer posing a threat to others.

Question 5

Retribution

Answer 5

society should punish criminals in a fashion similar to the crime actually committed in order either to exact vengeance for the wrong-doer’s own violation of the law. “An Eye for an Eye”