Deterrence Theory Of Prison Sentencing
This week’s reading focuses on the various types of sentencing theories, the types of sentencing options, and how they are applied. I found the just deserts and retribution perspectives to be interesting. While these theories are similar in their favoring of proportionality in sentencing, they differ in terms of when prison sentences should be imposed and the length of prison sentences (when they are imposed).
Retributionists believe that individuals that cause harm should be inflicted with the same level of pain and that prisons strictly used for punishment. Retribution does not seek to target what has caused the individual to result in committing crime and does not care about what happens after an offender has served their sentence (Cullen …show more content…
Prison alone, can be very dangerous in terms of punishment of offenders. Labeling theory predicts that by treating individuals like offenders, a number of factors can be set into motion that increase criminal involvement (Cullen and Johnson, 2016). Sampson and Laub also found that serving time in prison weakens social bonds, which can lead to increased recidivism rates. Since both of these concepts to not consider rehabilitation’s role in changing behavior (which can in turn possibly reduce recidivism), I would disagree with both of these …show more content…
Deterrence theory suggests that if punishments increase, crime rates should decrease. General deterrence is the idea that by punishing one offender for a crime, other members of the community will be deterred from criminal behavior as well. Specific deterrence targets the individual; it uses punishment for one crime to deter the individual from preventing further crimes (Cullen and Johnson, 2016). Certainty and severity of punishment are the two primary concepts within deterrence theory. However, this theory assumes that every offender completes a cost-to-benefit analysis prior to committing crime. Deterrence theory predicts that more police, arrests, and incarceration would lower the crime rate. According to Cullen and Johnson, the only punishment variable that shows to have strong effects on deterrence is the level of incarceration; however this could be a measure of incapacitation not deterrence
Retributionists believe that individuals that cause harm should be inflicted with the same level of pain and that prisons strictly used for punishment. Retribution does not seek to target what has caused the individual to result in committing crime and does not care about what happens after an offender has served their sentence (Cullen …show more content…
Prison alone, can be very dangerous in terms of punishment of offenders. Labeling theory predicts that by treating individuals like offenders, a number of factors can be set into motion that increase criminal involvement (Cullen and Johnson, 2016). Sampson and Laub also found that serving time in prison weakens social bonds, which can lead to increased recidivism rates. Since both of these concepts to not consider rehabilitation’s role in changing behavior (which can in turn possibly reduce recidivism), I would disagree with both of these …show more content…
Deterrence theory suggests that if punishments increase, crime rates should decrease. General deterrence is the idea that by punishing one offender for a crime, other members of the community will be deterred from criminal behavior as well. Specific deterrence targets the individual; it uses punishment for one crime to deter the individual from preventing further crimes (Cullen and Johnson, 2016). Certainty and severity of punishment are the two primary concepts within deterrence theory. However, this theory assumes that every offender completes a cost-to-benefit analysis prior to committing crime. Deterrence theory predicts that more police, arrests, and incarceration would lower the crime rate. According to Cullen and Johnson, the only punishment variable that shows to have strong effects on deterrence is the level of incarceration; however this could be a measure of incapacitation not deterrence