Punishment

Question 1

What are the four justifications for punishment?

Answer 1

Deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation, retribution

Question 2

Fuctionalist explanation

Answer 2

Durkheim says punishment is to uphold social solidarity, varying according to society. For instance, retributive; collective conscience, punishment is cruel and severe. Restitutive (modern society); to repair damages

Question 3

Functionalist explanation evaluation

Answer 3

Traditional societies also have restitutive punishment, such as the death penalty

Question 4

Marxist explanation

Answer 4

Punishment serves the ruling class, maintains social order, repressive state apparatus. Thompson says in the 18th century hanging was to give a rule of terror. Prison and capitalist factories have similar disciplinary styles.

Question 5

Marxist explanation evaluation

Answer 5

Functionalists say this is too negative

Question 6

Foucalt’s explanation of surveillance

Answer 6

Sovereign power: up to 1800s, punishment was brutal, such as public executions
Disciplinary power: 1800s onwards, we now have power over minds and souls through surveillance

Question 7

Foucalt’s explanation of surveillance evaluation

Answer 7

This exaggerates control and ignores resistance

Question 8

Trends in punishment

Answer 8

Politicians have sought popularity by calling for tougher sentences, such as the New Labour. Prisons are now full, grew by 70% between 1993 and 2005. The UK imprisons a higher proportion than in any country in western Europe.

Question 9

Trends in punishment evaluation

Answer 9

Imprisonment has not proven effective for rehabilitation, about 2/3 of prisoners commit crime again after release