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

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