5.2 Purposes of Sanctions

rehabilitation

designed to reform an offender in order to prevent them from committing offences in the future

punishment

designed to penalise the offender and show society and the victim that criminal behaviour will not be tolerated

deterrence

designed to discourage the offender and others in the community from committing similar offences

general deterrence

designed to dicourage others in the community from committing similar offences

specific deterrence

designed to discourage the offender from committing further offences

denunciation

designed to demonstrate the community and court’s dispproval of the offender’s actions

protection

designed to safeguard the community from an offender by preventing them from committing further offences

indefinite sentence

a term of imprisonment that has no fixed end date, usually given to the most serious offenders

rehabilitation sentences

• addresses underlying casues of offending and treats the offender

• help the offender to change their attitude and behaviour

• offender must be remorseful

• CCO and DATO are best

punishment sentences

• for serious and violent cases

• must be proportionate to the offence comitted

• prison and fines are most common for this purpose

deterrence sentences

• discourages people and the offender from committing similar offences

• CCOs, Imprisonment, Fines are most common

Denunciation sentences

• way for the court to show the community their dispproval of the offender’s conduct

• sentence imposed is usually publicised to demonstrate to the community

• typically harsher sentenced so the court can stamp out the behaviour and make a point to the community

• Imprisonment, significant fines, CCOs, recording of a conviction

Protection sentences

• achieved by removing an offender from the community

• particularly relevant where an offender refuses to participate in treatment or rehabilitation programs, where there is no remorse, and significant criminal history