custodial sentencing

• 4 aims:

  • deterrence: prison experience puts the offender and the public off engaging in offending behaviour. individual deterrence prevents committing same offence - vicarious reinforcement
  • incapacitation: offender taken out of society to protect the public. but depends on the severity of the offence
  • retribution: society enacting revenge on the offender making them suffer in proportion to the seriousness of the offence
  • rehabilitation: to reform the offending when they are released back into society. prison should provide treatment in reflection
• psychological effects of custodial sentencing:

  • stress and depression: suicide and self harm higher than in general. stress also heightened at higher risk of developing psychological disorder
  • institutionalisation: adopt the norms/ routines of an inmate as the become accustomed to them so no longer able top function upon release
  • prisonisation: prisoners socialised into adopting inmate code. behaviour considered unacceptable but may be rewarded in prison
• problem of recidivism:

  extent prison acts an effective deterrent, difficult to obtain figures for various reasons for both offending short and long term.45% UK Yukhanko 2019 ministry of justice report. Norway 20% emphasis on rehabilitation and skills development
• -learn to become a better offender. alongside legitimate skills offender. they may undergo a more dubious education from the incarceration of LT offenders may give younger chance to learn from the experienced. offenders may also acquire more criminal contacts and follow up when they are released. therefore it may counteract the effectiveness of offending as it makes recidivism more likely.
• -psychological effects. Barrol 1995 for many offenders prison is brutal. ministry justice of england and wales 119 suicide 2019 32% increase from 2015, equates to one every 3 days 9x more likely than in general. the most at risk is single men 18-24 yr old. prison reform trust 2014 25% female 15%boys develop symptoms of psychosis supporting the view that oppressive prison regimes have detrimental impacts on psychological health impacting rehabilitation.
• +provide chance for training and treatment. objective of imprisonment is rehabilitation, offenders may become a better person when back in society. many offenders access education increase chance employment- shirely 2019. offenders who participate in training 43% less likely to reoffend. prisons who offer programmes have less violent incidents. suggests prison may be a worthwhile experience if offenders are able to access these programmes as it can help reduce recidivism