AO3

• Custodial sentencing has many psychological effects.

  • Stress and depression: suicide rates are considerably higher in prisons (15 times higher) than the general population.
  • Institutionalisation: offenders may adapt to the norms and routines of prisons, so they are unable to cope outside of prison.
  • Prisonisation: how prisoners are socialised into adopting an 'inmate code'. Behaviour that may be considered unacceptable outside of prison may be encouraged and rewarded inside of prison.
• A strength is that it provides clear deterrence and incapacitation. Research by Dunbar and Simmonds (2004) found that, in some cases, imprisonment reduces reoffending by keeping offenders out of society for extended periods. For example, serious offenders are unable to commit crimes while incarcerated, serving a clear incapacitation function. Similarly, general deterrence works to prevent crime for those aware of the consequences. However, the effectiveness of deterrence is debated, as some argue that individuals who commit crimes are not always deterred by the threat of imprisonment.
• A further strength is that custodial sentencing offers opportunities for rehabilitation. Many prisons offer educational programs, therapy, and vocational training to help inmates develop skills and address underlying issues like addiction or anger. The UK government’s "Pathfinder" scheme has shown that offering offenders more productive activities during their time in custody can reduce the likelihood of reoffending. Studies have also found that offenders who participate in rehabilitation programs are less likely to reoffend, especially when tailored to their specific needs.
• A limitation of custodial sentencing is that reoffending rates remain high despite the aims of rehabilitation and deterrence. According to UK government statistics, more than 40% of prisoners are reconvicted within one year of release. This suggests that prison may not effectively rehabilitate offenders and may instead foster criminal behaviour. Many offenders report that prison environments expose them to more criminal influences, which could increase the likelihood of future offending. This suggests that alternatives to custodial sentencing (e.g. resorative justice) may be more effective.
• A limitation is that it can have harmful psychological effects. Bartol suggested that imprisonment can be 'brutal, demeaning and devestating', especially in high-security prisons, where prisoners are particularly vulnerable due to the harsh environment (isolation, lack of autonomy, etc.). He found that up to 25% of prisoners in some facilities report severe depression, with rates of suicide being 15 times higher than in the general population. This suggests that it is not effective in rehabilitating offenders, especially those who are psychologically vulnerable.