Three aims of punishment

• Aims of Punishment


  • Deterrence
  • Protection
  • Reformation
  • Retribution
  • Reparation
  • Vindication
• Retribution


  An aim of punishment - to get your own back, 'an eye for an eye'
• Retribution


  • The least positive of the three aims of punishment
  • It means that society, on behalf of the victim, is getting its own back on the offender
• Lex talionis


  The law of retaliation - criminals should receive the same injuries and damage they caused to their victim
• Exodus 21:23-25: '"If there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise"'
• Most Christians do not take this teaching literally but interpret it to mean that there is a principle that an offender should receive a punishment severe enough to match the seriousness of their crimes
• Deterrence


  An aim of punishment - to put people off committing crimes
• Many people believe that if offenders are seen to be punished or severely punished, it might but other people off committing the same crime as there is the threat of similar punishment
• In Britain's past, people were punished in public, e.g. public floggings or executions, in order to deter others
• Christians believe that every human being should be treated with respect, regardless of what they have done and not be made an example of
• Reformation


  An aim of punishment - to change someone's behaviour for the better
• Reformation is the aim of punishment that most Christians prefer because it seeks to help offenders
• In order for reformation to work, an offender needs to realise that their behaviour is wrong before they can hope to be reformed
• Romans 12:19-21: '"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him something to drink […] Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"'
• Christians are encouraged not to seek revenge but instead, to set an example by showing compassion