Dealing with offender behaviour : Custodial Sentencing

Custodial sentencing 4 aims:

deterrence, incapacitation, retribution, rehabilitation

What is deterrence

Unpleasant prison experience is designed to put off the individual

general deterrence - send a broad message to members of a society that crime will not be tolerated

individual deterrence - prevent individual from repeating the same crime considering their experience

What is incapacitation

Offender is taken out of society to prevent reoffending to protect the public

depends upon the severity of the offence and the nature of the offender

What is retribution

society is enacting revenge for the crime by making offender suffer - suffering is proportionate to the crime

based on the notion of an ‘eye for an eye’

many see prison as the best option

What is rehabilitation

upon release, offender should leave better adjusted and ready for society

prison should provide opportunities to develop skills and training or to access treatment programmes for drug addiction, and give offender the change to reflect on their crime

Psychological effects of custodial sentencing

stress and depression - suicide rates are higher in prisons, stress also increase risk of psychological disturbance following release

institutionalisation - inmates may become accustomed to prison life, they are no longer able to function outside

prisonisation - how prisoners are socialised to an ‘inmate code’ - behaviours unacceptable in outside world may be encouraged and rewarded inside walls of institution