Describe the five goals of contemporary criminal sentencing

Which of these goals do you think ought to be the primary goal of sentencing? How might your choice vary with the type of offense? In what circumstances might your choice be less acceptable?


• The goals of criminal sentencing include retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, rehabilitation, and restoration. Retribution corresponds to the just deserts model of sentencing, which holds that offenders are responsible for their crimes. Incapacitation seeks to protect innocent members of society from offenders who might harm them if not prevented from doing so. The goal of deterrence is to prevent future criminal activity through the example or threat of punishment. Rehabilitation seeks to bring about fundamental changes in offenders and their behavior to reduce the likelihood of future criminality, and restoration seeks to address the damage done by crime by making the victim and the community "whole again." In general, more serious crime might lead to greater calls for retribution and incapacitation, while more minor or drug-related crimes might prompt rehabilitation as a goal.

Criminal Justice

You might also like to view...

According to the typical linear continuum of force policy, ______ refers to when police grip parts of the body to warn the individual that they are to remain motionless or move in a certain direction.

a. presence b. persuasive verbalization c. command verbalization d. firm grips

Criminal Justice

One of the primary confounding myths of serial murder is that they are all, by definition, _______.

a. violent.
b. committed by killers who report prior criminality and incarcerations.
c. cases of sane individuals who commit atrocities on society.
d. sexual.

Criminal Justice

A strong set of ethical norms has been established to guide prosecutors in most U.S. courts

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Criminal Justice

Searches are performed to figure out where a criminal is located

Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

Criminal Justice