Punishment

What are the 2 key justifications for punishment?

• reduction

• retribution

What is reduction as a justification for punishment?

punishment is used as a means to reduce future crime

What is deterrence?

punishing offenders discourages them from reoffending and acts as a warning to the wider public

What is rehabilitation?

punishment aims to reform offenders so they no longer commit crimes (e.g., prison education, training programmes)

What is incapacitation?

punishment physically prevents offenders from committing further crimes (e.g., imprisonment)

What is retribution as a justification for punishment?

the idea that offenders deserve punishment for crimes already committed and must 'pay back' society

What is Durkheim's functionalist view of punishment?

Punishment reinforces social solidarity and collective values by reaffirming shared morality

How do public trials and punishments benefit society according to Durkheim?

They act as rituals that unite society and reinforce collective values

What is retributive justice?

A form of justice found in traditional societies involving harsh and expressive punishments to enforce conformity (Durkheim)

What is restitutive justice?

A form of justice common in modern societies that focuses on repairing damage and restoring order, e.g., compensation (Durkheim)

How do Marxists view punishment?

Punishment serves ruling-class interests by protecting property and maintaining the capitalist system

How is punishment part of the repressive state apparatus?

It disciplines and controls the working class through prisons and harsh sentencing

How do prisons reflect capitalist society according to Melossi & Pavarini?

Prisons mirror capitalist relations of production through discipline, subordination and loss of freedom

What does the phrase 'doing time' suggest according to Melossi & Pavarini?

Prisoners repay a debt through time, reflecting capitalism's emphasis on the value of time

Why are prisons sometimes called 'universities of crime'?

High reoffending rates suggest prisoners may learn new criminal skills while incarcerated

What problems of imprisonment are identified by Carrabine et al.?

Overcrowding, poor sanitation, poor food and limited education or work opportunities

What inequalities are found in the UK prison population?

Prisoners are disproportionately young, male, poorly educated and ethnic minorities are overrepresented

What is mass incarceration?

The large-scale imprisonment of people, particularly evident in the USA (Garland)

How has imprisonment increased in the USA according to Garland?

The prison population has risen dramatically, with millions now imprisoned or under criminal justice supervision

Why does Garland argue mass incarceration has developed in the USA?

Crime has become highly politicised and governments have adopted 'tough on crime' policies

What is transcarceration?

The movement of individuals between institutions such as care homes, youth detention about social control?

What is a strength of punishment?

It provides a visible response to wrongdoing and reassures victims and communities that justice has been done

How does labelling theory support rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation can reduce stigma and avoid permanently labelling offenders as criminals

Why do critics argue prisons fail as a method of rehabilitation?

High reoffending rates show many offenders return to crime after release

Why is punishment criticised from a Marxist perspective?

Laws and punishments often target the working class while corporate crime receives less attention

How can imprisonment be seen as a form of social control?

It helps maintain ruling-class interests by controlling disadvantaged groups

Why is mass incarceration criticised?

It creates overcrowding, poor conditions and may focus more on control and political gain than reducing crime

Why do some critics argue punishment is not the solution for all offenders?

Many prisoners require treatment for issues such as mental illness or drug addiction rather than punishment alone