WJEC Criminology: Unit 4- AC2.2
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- Created on: 22-05-19 21:27
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AC2.2- Describe the aims of punishment
Penal System aims:
- Retribution: this aims to punish an offender, such as imprisonment
- Rehabilitation: this aims to help prisoners so they don't reoffend
- Deterrence: to stop others from committing a crime
- Public Protection: to keep the public sade
- Reparation: to punish criminals as pay back to the community or victim
Punishment categories:
- Custodial: Mandatory and discretionary life sentences, fixed term sentences or suspended sentence
- Community sentences: Can be a combination order e.g unpaid work, curfew, drug treatment and testing, supervision, treatment programs
- Fines: Depends on financial circumstances of the offender and seriouness of offences
- Discharges-conditional: If the defendant re-offends during this time (up to three years), the courts can give a different sentence
- Discharges- absolute: No penalty is imposed. Defendant is guilty but morally blameless
Retribution
- Based on the idea that the offender deserves a punishment
- Let the punishment fit the crime- 'an eye for an eye'
- Justice should be measured in terms of fairness and proportionality
- The more serious, the more harsh the punishment
- Does not seek to alter future behaviour, merely to inflict punishment in proportiin to the offence
- Supported by the sentencing council who provide guidelines on sentecing
- According to the coroners and justice act 2009, a court must follow the guidelines unless it is against the interests of the justice system to do so
- Retribution contains an element of revenge, in that the society and victim are being avenged for the wrong doing
- The most radical example of retribution is the death penalty
- However, the re-offending rate is the same in US states that have the death penalty in comparison to states that dont (reoffending rate of 64%)
Rehabiliation:
- The main aim is to reform the offender by altering their behaviour and reintroducing them into society
- It is a forward thinking…
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