Punishment Flashcards
(7 cards)
Funtionalist perspectives on punishment
Reduction-means to prevent the criminal from committing further crime e.g restraining orders, community sentencing, prison.
Retribution-Is where the individual is punished for what they have done, e.g being taken to court, punishment
Left Realist perspectives on punishment
believe that prison alone is an ineffective method of punishment. It is not effective in reducing crime.
They believe punishment should be combined with the practice of restorative justice
restorative justice
Restorative justice involves the offender actively doing something to make up for the harm done as a result of their crime.
Different types of restorative justice
reparation, (paying back - financial, repair/fix)
mediation, (offender meeting victim)
reintegrative ‘shaming’, (help offenders understand/see the consequences of their actions)
family conferencing (seeks to bring the offender, victim, and members of the community into some form of communication and ‘healing’ process).
Marxist perspectives on punishment
suggest that both the workplace and prison are a way of disciplining workers into following capitalist society. It is an enforced law made by the law to protect the elite. Crime like theft of property, which is an asset of capitalism, is punished more harshly than assault.
How does prison benefit the capitalist society?
Prison benefits the capitalist system in three major ways:
The imprisonment of selected members of the lower classes neutralizes opposition to the system.
The imprisonment of many members of the underclass also sweeps out of sight the ‘worst jetsam of capitalist society’.
By punishing people for the crime they committed, the failing system is ignored.
Postmodern perspectives on punishment
Foucault suggests…
Crime control has changed from fear of being physically punished to control through surveillance—fear of being seen to be doing something wrong.
Prisoners must self-monitor their behaviour, prison is invasive as a means of social control.
