knowt logo

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

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

robot