ac 2.2

5 aims of punishment

1. To punish offenders 

2. To reduce crime  

3. To rehabilitate offenders 

4. To protect the public  

5.  To compensate victims when necessar

aims of punishment (RRRDDP)

rehabilitation retribution reparation deterrance denunciation

Deterrence  

Individual deterrence- aimed to ensure an offender doesn't reoffend to prevent future offending (recidivism) e,g. A prision sentence. 

General deterrence- Aim to prevent potential criminals from committing a crime 

Criticism: However, the recidivism rates my suggest that prisons don’t deter criminals as the reoffending rate is 50% within the same year of a prisoner release.  

retribution

•  Aims to provide an adequate level of justice for the victims of the crime committed by the offender 

•  It's considered to be revenge, where the victims and society are avenged for the crimes committed by the offender through their loss of freedom 

Criticism: offenders may deserve forgiveness for their crimes however strict sentences ignore this.  

Reparation 

the offender pays back the victim and society for their crimes e.g apologising to the victim face to face

Criticism: reparation can't be used for all crimes e.g sexual crimes 

Public Protection  

- Custodial sentences can be used as a form of punishment to protect the public through the offender being convicted which means they’re prevented from having freedom and unable to commit crimes. Once leaving the offender would be given a probation order which would monitor their behaviour  

- A community order can be used as public protection and a form of punishment where the offenders behaviour is monitored and not committing crime which protects society.

Criticism: However, life imprisonment to protect the public causes issues such as overcrowding. Additionally, the cost of a prisoner is over £100,000. 

Denunciation 

A sentence given which allows society to show its disapproval of a crime. As a result, it creates moral boundaries that can change society’s behaviour. For example, campaigns for drink-driving led to harsher sentences and punishments.  

Criticism: interactionalists would argue denunciation can lead to the labelling of a criminal can cause more crime because of a self-fulfilling prophecy.