Wright - Deterrence in Criminal Justice

state and fed incarceration rates increase

recently sentencing policy goals: enhancing deterrent effect of crim justice system

• research shows the certainty of punishment is more likely to produce deterrent benefits

conceptualizing deterrence

• increases certainty of punishment, offenders may be deterred by risk of apprehension

• severity of punishment may influence behavior

• problems:

  • assumes that ppl consider the consequences before they act

    • ½ state prisoners under influence of drugs / alcohol

  • most crimes don’t result in an arrest and conviction

  • in order for sanctions to deter, potential offenders need to be aware of sanction risks / consequences

certainty vs severity of punishment

• certainty of punishment more effective deterrent

• more severe sentences fail to enhance public safety

  • increases risk that lower-risk offenders will be negatively affected by incarceration

  • being incarcerated increases risk of recidivism. also being there longer increases

  • reduced sentences may reduce recidivism rates

economic costs of more severe sentences

• reducing number of incarcerated non-violent offenders by half could save taxpayers $16.9 billion annually w/o putting public safety at risk

  • ex: non-violent drug offenders would benefit more from drug treatment in community based programs