Punishment Research Paper
Week 6 Assignment
Punishment Research Paper
“Does Punishment Deter Crime”
By: Charmin M, Gunning
Sociology/120-UOPX
8/12/2013
Introduction
Today America has one of the highest crime rates in the world. There are many laws in this country that are meant to deter people from committing crimes, but, how well do these deterrents work? That is the question I will be addressing in this paper. I will also address the effects of four types of punishments; retribution, Deterrence, rehabilitation, and societal protection.
Part 1
Retribution is considered the oldest justification for punishment. Individuals that support this form of punishment feel that the punishment is society’s way of getting even or revenge for a crime that has been committed. They may also feel that the punishment should fit the crime. This is society’s way of balancing the scales after a crime throws off the balance of societal bliss or normality.
Much of the empirical work by criminologists on public opinion concerning punishment has been a debate over whether the public 's views, especially concerning the death penalty, are primarily instrumental, resulting from fear of crime and a desire for incapacitation and/or deterrence, or primarily retributive, resulting from a desire for revenge ( e.g., Bedau, 1987; Blumstein and Cohen, 1980; Ellsworth and Ross, 1983; Hamilton and Rytina, 1980; Rankin, 1979; Stinchcombe et al., 1980; Thomas et al., 1976; Tyler and Weber, 1982; Vidmar and Ellsworth, 1974; Warr and StaflFord, 1984; Warr et al., 1983; Zeisel and Gallup, 1989). There is evidence that both sentiments have a significant deterring factors, however, retribution is the most widely held doctrine in American society today. It is also known for being closely related to support for capital punishment.
Part 2
Deterrence is the main reason for punishment in society because it is believed that if the punishment for a crime is severe enough, “would be” criminals will
Punishment Research Paper
“Does Punishment Deter Crime”
By: Charmin M, Gunning
Sociology/120-UOPX
8/12/2013
Introduction
Today America has one of the highest crime rates in the world. There are many laws in this country that are meant to deter people from committing crimes, but, how well do these deterrents work? That is the question I will be addressing in this paper. I will also address the effects of four types of punishments; retribution, Deterrence, rehabilitation, and societal protection.
Part 1
Retribution is considered the oldest justification for punishment. Individuals that support this form of punishment feel that the punishment is society’s way of getting even or revenge for a crime that has been committed. They may also feel that the punishment should fit the crime. This is society’s way of balancing the scales after a crime throws off the balance of societal bliss or normality.
Much of the empirical work by criminologists on public opinion concerning punishment has been a debate over whether the public 's views, especially concerning the death penalty, are primarily instrumental, resulting from fear of crime and a desire for incapacitation and/or deterrence, or primarily retributive, resulting from a desire for revenge ( e.g., Bedau, 1987; Blumstein and Cohen, 1980; Ellsworth and Ross, 1983; Hamilton and Rytina, 1980; Rankin, 1979; Stinchcombe et al., 1980; Thomas et al., 1976; Tyler and Weber, 1982; Vidmar and Ellsworth, 1974; Warr and StaflFord, 1984; Warr et al., 1983; Zeisel and Gallup, 1989). There is evidence that both sentiments have a significant deterring factors, however, retribution is the most widely held doctrine in American society today. It is also known for being closely related to support for capital punishment.
Part 2
Deterrence is the main reason for punishment in society because it is believed that if the punishment for a crime is severe enough, “would be” criminals will
References: * Harold G. Grasmick, Elizabeth Davenport, Mitchell B Chamlin, Robert J. Bursik, Jr., University of Oklahoma; Protestant Fundamentalism and the Retributive Doctrine Of Punishment. * Workman, Michael, and John Gathegi. “Punishment and ethics detterents: A study of insider security contravention; Journal Of The American Society For Information Science and Technology, 58, 2, pp. * John J. Macionis. Society: The Basics, Eleventh Edition, Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.