Elaborate on the major goals of criminal sentencing. Discuss the message each goal is attempting to convey to the offender
What will be an ideal response?
The objectives of criminal sentencing today can be grouped into five areas: general and specific deterrence, incapacitation, retribution/just dessert, rehabilitation, and equity/restitution.
Deterrence is one of the most popular goals of sentencing and attempts to teach the offender or a group of would-be offenders a lesson. In general deterrence the premise is that others will be too afraid to break the law if they believe that they will be caught and punished severely. In contrast, specific deterrence is used for the individual law breaker to convince him or her that the pains of punishment are greater than the benefits of the crime. The goal of incapacitation is justifiable because prison and jail inmates who have been taken out of their communities and placed in a walled institution for punishment will not be able to repeat their criminal acts while under control of the state. Unfortunately, this may not be the case as our facilities are often full of violence, victimization, criminal behavior, and gang issues and many researchers have nicknamed our state institutions criminal universities. Retribution or just desert is to further the goal of punish deserving offenders, fairly, and justly, in a manner that is proportionate to the gravity of their crimes. The concept of just desert describes that the punishment should fit the crime and be no less and no more than what the offender's actions deserve. Finally, rehabilitation and equity restitution are used under the premise that with proper treatment, the offender will present no further threat to society. Equity/restitution is where the convicted criminals will pay their debt to society and the justice system for the disruption they have caused.
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What will be an ideal response?
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a. true b. false
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