2.2 aims of punishment

Question 1

Retribution

Answer 1

• literal meaning of ‘paying back’
• inflicting punishment on offender for what they did
• punishment should be proportional to the crime.

Question 2

Retribution - theory

Answer 2

Linked to right realists such as rational choice.
- assumes offenders are rational actors who consciously commit crimes.

Question 3

Retribution - criticisms

Answer 3

• argued that offenders deserve forgiveness
• people disagree about what crimes are more serious than others

Question 4

Rehabilitation

Answer 4

Idea that punishment can be used to reform or change offenders so they no longer offend

Question 5

Rehabilitation theory

Answer 5

• individualistic see rehabilitation as a main aim of punishment
• cognitive theories - favour cognitive behavioural therapies.

Question 6

Rehabilitation criticisms

Answer 6

Right realists - argue it only has limited success. Many offenders go on to re-offend

Question 7

Deterrence

Answer 7

Put someone off committing crime - by punishment such as prison

Question 8

Deterrence theory

Answer 8

Right realism - favoures deterrance
- rational choice - rational actors that weigh up pros and cons of their actions therefore, severe punishments will deter crime.

Question 9

Deterrance criticisms

Answer 9

• half on prisoners reoffend in the first year of getting out, suggests prison is not an effective deterrent
• assumes offenders act rationally

Question 10

Public protection

Answer 10

Protect the public from further offending
Things like prisons make sure offenders aren’t allowed into the community and therefore, cannot harm the public

Question 11

Public protection - theory

Answer 11

Biological - criminals are biologically different than non offenders
Right realists - believe in prison

Question 12

Reparation

Answer 12

Offender making amends for the wrong that they have done.
Financial compensation - offender paying the victim for the damage they have done e.g smashed window
Unpaid work - community sentence.

Question 13

Reparation theory

Answer 13

Labelling theory - by enabling them to show genuine remorse, prevents them to be pushed into reoffending
Functionalists - Durkheim- argues reparation can help put things back to how they were before the offender offended

Question 14

Reparation criticisms

Answer 14

• may not work for all types of offence.