CRJ 350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Diminishing Returns, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Deterrence Theory
18 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
That punishment deters crime and swifter more certain and more sever punishments will reduce crime further is an article of faith among conservatives. The simple idea that people want to avoid unpleasant experiences such as punishment is far more complex when applied to the cjs. We need to distinguish the deterrent effect of the system generally from particular policies and programs. The system deters in that threat of punishment contributes to law abiding behavior, but families, religious training schools and peers also deter. First: offenders have to be aware of the penalty for particular crimes. Second: they must perceive the consequences as unpleasant. Third: they have to believe a risk of arrest, conviction and punishment is real. Fourth: there is an assumption that people are rational actors. Specific deterrence is directed at an individual offender while general deterrence is directed at the society as a whole.
