Dealing with offending behaviour - The aims of custodial sentencing

Question 1

What is custodial sentencing?

Answer 1

When individuals are found guilty of a crime by a court and as a punishment spends time in prison

Question 2

What are the four functions of custodial sentencing?

Answer 2

Deterrence, retribution, confinement and rehabilitation

Question 3

What is deterrence in relation to custodial sentencing?

Answer 3

This is the principle that prison stops reoffending based on behaviourist beliefs; if criminals understand that criminal behaviours will be punished, they will not want to commit crime again. Recidivism (reoffending) can be used to measure how far this aim has been met

Question 4

What is retribution in relation to custodial sentencing?

Answer 4

This focuses on the feelings of the victims, the people around them and society in general. The aim is to make the offender pay for their actions, in the case of prison this means losing their freedom as a consequence of their actions. It is argued that this is the main reason prisons exist

Question 5

What is confinement in relation to custodial sentencing?

Answer 5

This means that the offender is not free to commit more crimes, and so they no longer pose a threat to society. This is particularly a function with sex offenders. This is the same principle as those with mental health issues who were locked away in the 1960s and 70s

Question 6

What is rehabilitation in relation to custodial sentencing?

Answer 6

Counselling and offender programmes are offered in prison to rehabilitate the offender and make recidivism less likely. If successful, this allows the offender to sort problems or learn skills that put them in a better position to lead a crime-free life after prison

Question 7

What functions are not being performed by our current prison system?

Answer 7

Deterrence and rehabilitation

Question 8

How many offenders re-offend within a year?

Answer 8

30%

Question 9

Which type of offenders have the highest and fastest recidivism rates?

Answer 9

Sexual offenders

Question 10

What is meant by the term “college of crime”?

Answer 10

While in prison offenders can learn new criminal habits from each other, suggesting that custodial sentencing has the opposite to the desired effect

Question 11

Which functions are effectively performed?

Answer 11

Retribution and confinement