Deterrence's Role In The Criminal Justice System

What we call criminal activity has undoubtedly been with us since the dawn of history, and crime control has long been a primary concern of politicians and government leaders worldwide. Still, the American experience with crime during the last half century has been especially influential in shaping the criminal justice system of today.
What is crime?
A crime is a wrongdoing classified by the state or Congress as a felony or misdemeanor. A crime is an offense against a public law. This word, in its most general sense, includes all offenses, but in its more limited sense is confined to felony. ("The Law Library", 1995-2015). A crime is an act that breaks a law that relates to how to behave in society. The harm caused by the act is seen to be
There are two types of deterrence; specific deterrence and general deterrence. Specific deterrence occurs when an offender is caught, punished, and decides not to engage in further criminal behavior because he or she now understands the consequence of that behavior. (CJi Interactive Multi-Media).
General deterrence occurs when an offender is caught and punished, and this punishment is observed by others. Therefore, these others, do not engage in criminal behavior themselves to avoid punishment. Deterrence may result when the criminal justice system imposes any of the other four criminal justice goals. (CJi Interactive Multi-Media). When people know or fear they will be caught and punished, they are less likely to commit criminal acts. If individuals believe they will be shamed or inconvenienced for specific behaviors, they are also less likely to engage in those behaviors. (CJi Interactive Multi-Media).
Incapacitation involves removing the offender’s ability to commit crime. In the current criminal justice system, this typically means incarceration. Locking up dangerous individuals removes them from society and restricts their ability to commit further crimes in the
Many people believe that justice prevails when an offender is punished. Retribution is an ancient motive with religious connotations, and for many people it is one of the most important goals of the criminal justice system. Some types of retribution include: incarceration, victim compensation, fines paid to public agencies, community service, and public humiliation/embarrassment. (CJi Interactive Multi-Media).
Rehabilitation involves the attempt to reform a criminal offender. The criminal is untrained, un-socialized, confused, or mentally ill and needs teaching or treatment or other care. This involves correcting the behavior of the offender and giving him or her skills and emotional strength to survive in society without violating the law. The debate as to whether rehabilitation works and whether the criminal justice system allocates suitable resources toward this goal is ongoing. (CJi Interactive Multi-Media).
Restoration involves the attempt to make the victim “whole again.” The goal of restorative justice is to repair the harm crime has done to the relationship between the offender and the community. The criminal needs to “get right” with the victim, or the community at large, so it is insisted he/she take actions that heal the social wound. (CJi Interactive