explanations of punishment

Question 1

functionalism - durkeim

Answer 1

• function of punishment is to reinforce shared values
• expresses society’s outrage through public trials
• function of punishment varies depending on the society we live in
• traditional society is retributive and modern society is restitutive

AO3: traditional society was often restitutive, e.g. blood feuds settled by payment instead of execution

Question 2

marxism - capitalism

Answer 2

• punishment maintains social order
• repressive state apparatus defends RC property against WC
• imprisonment reflects WC subordination

AO3: too negative, punishment serves society as a whole

Question 3

surveillance - foucault

Answer 3

• punishment used to be brutal, e.g. public execution
• western society became more civilised
• surveillance became a more effective method of control
• self-surveillance happens in schools + work

AO3: assumes emotional punishment has disappeared completely from modern society

Question 4

trends in punishment

Answer 4

• imprisonment seen as worst punishment in liberal societies
• UK imprisons highest proportion of people in western europe
• trend towards transcarceration - people switch between different agencies, e.g. from prison to mental hospitals

AO3: incarceration is ineffective - 2/3 of people reoffend