10.6: Goals of Punishment in America
- Page ID
- 48432
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Goals of Punishment in America
Why do we punish offenders? There is no consensus on the answer to this crucial question. As a result the American system of justice attempts to accomplish six general punishment goals, some of which are rather contrary to one another.
1. General Deterrence
As previously discussed, the classical school goal of general deterrence is still held by many to be an important goal. The idea is that by punishing a particular individual many more society members are deterred from committing crime themselves. The key is thought to be that the punishment must not be too severe so as to be seen as unjust by the public but yet it must be severe enough to be a threat.
2. Incapacitation
The goal of incapacitation is to put the convicted individual under some type of control so that they will not recommit the crime and so that they are not a risk to society. It is difficult to predict which individuals pose a risk to society and which sanction will disable the convicted individual from re-committing the crime.
3. Specific Deterrence
As the classical school suggested, a primary purpose of punishment would be to deter the specific convicted individual from committing crime again, the preventing recidivism. The difficulty still is in determining the severity of the needed sanction and addressing the concept of certainty. If most people were convinced that they were certain to be caught if they tried a crime again, it is doubtful that they would do the crime. However, if a person thinks they can do a crime and not get caught, then deterrence is not as effective.
4. Retribution
Retribution refers to the idea of getting even, of making an individual pay, typically through some type of suffering, for the crime they committed. Based off the biblical notion of “an eye for an eye,” the thought is that the punishment should fit the crime. The difficulty is in determining what fair punishment is and if there is any way to pay back for some types of crime.
5. Rehabilitation
This goal is to provide treatment to the convicted individual that will allow them to eventually readjust to society and function in it in a legal way in the future. Since many individuals will remain in society or return to it once released, the thought is to provide them with treatment and skills which will allow them to succeed in the future without turning to crime. The juvenile justice system in particular is built on the concept.
6. Restitution
This goal focuses on the importance of paying back victims for the harm done to them. Typically, the restitution is in the form of a monetary payment though sometimes it is in the form of labor or other public service. Sometimes the convicted individual is to pay the victim directly for damage done to them or their property and other times convicted individuals pay into a general government fund which is then used to provide payments and services to a broad range of victims.