Imprisonment

Question 1

What types of sentences are there?

Answer 1

• Life sentences
• Indeterminate sentences
• Determinate sentences
• Suspended sentences

Question 2

How does imprisonment meet the aims of retribution?

Answer 2

• Prison punishes people for their crimes by taking away their freedom and often imposing poor living conditions.

Question 3

How does imprisonment not meet the aims of retribution?

Answer 3

• It’s difficult to decide whether prison gives offenders their ‘just desserts’.
• Society disagrees on the correct length for sentences.

Question 4

How does imprisonment meet the aims of deterrence?

Answer 4

• Risk or going to prison should deter would-be offenders from committing crimes.

Question 5

How does imprisonment not meet the aims of deterrence?

Answer 5

• Recidivism rates suggest prison isn’t an effective deterrent: 1/2 of all offenders reoffend in a year.
• Deterrence only works if offender has rational choice: drug addiction, poor education and mental health are associated w/ offending.

Question 6

How many offenders reoffend in a year?

Answer 6

1/2 of all offenders.

Question 7

How does imprisonment meet the aims of public protection?

Answer 7

• Takes offender out of society. Life sentences keep offenders permanently of the streets.
• Indeterminate sentences keep dangerous criminals off sheets until they are no longer a threat.

Question 8

How does imprisonment not meet the aims of public protection?

Answer 8

• Prisoners can harm themselves, other prisoners and guards.
• Costs for keeping prisoners is high (£35k).
• Prisons can act as a crime hub.

Question 9

How does imprisonment meet the aims of reparation?

Answer 9

• Repair damage caused by offender: Prisoners Earning Act (2011) states that prisoners working outside of prison can be made to pay portion of earnings to victim support services.

Question 10

What act relates to imprisonment and reparation?

Answer 10

Prisoners Earning Act (2011)

Question 11

How does imprisonment not meet the aims of reparation?

Answer 11

• Few prisoners have opportunity to gain work so prison isn’t particularly useful for this.

Question 12

How does imprisonment meet the aims of rehabilitation?

Answer 12

• Longer sentences allow prisoners to access rehab programmes e.g. parenting training and education.

Question 13

How does imprisonment not meet the aims of rehabilitation?

Answer 13

• Lack of training and education facilities.
• Lack if funding for anger management courses.
• Issues of addiction and mental health issues not being tackled.