ac2.3 assess how forms of punishment meet aims of punishment

• do community sentence meet their aims

  • retribution - considered revenge, punishes by repaying back the community - an eye for an eye
  • public protection/ Incapacitation - offenders monitored
  • Rehabilitation - offender may reflect on behaviour, return to society
  • denunciation - society expresses disapproval, reinforces boundary maintenance
• type of imprisonment

  • life sentences - mandatory and discretionary
  • fixed term sentences
  • indeterminate sentences
  • suspended sentences
• forms of punishment

  • imprisonment
  • community
  • fines
  • discharges
• types of community sentences

  • unpaid work
  • curfew
  • drug treatment and testing
  • supervision (probation)
• fines depend on financial circumstance of the offender and seriousness of the crime
• types of discharge

  1. conditional - if defendant reoffends during a period of time, courts can impose a harsher sentence
  2. absolute - where no penalty is imposed as the defendant is guilty but morally blameless
• does imprisonment meet aims of punishment

  • retribution - takes away their freedom, depends on length of sentence
  • deterrence - creates individual and general deterrence - still high reoffending rates
  • public protection - removed from streets
  • rehabilitation - lack of support due to budget cuts/ resources
  • reparation - not much repair, only used to punish
• prison - retribution

  • seeks to punish through 'just deserts' so punishment is deserving of the crime
  • e.g life imprisonment for murder is seen as an eye of an eye
• prison - rehabilitation

  • argued it does not meet aim as there are still high recidivism rates
  • due to lack of resources/staff/funding
  • e.g 86% under 18s commit crimes after release from prison
  • however, some can be release on temporary license (ROTL) to take part in work, see children
• prison - deterrance

  • does put people off from committing crime
  • right realists - we are rational beings who make reasoned choices , so prison may put people off
  • a03 - not all act rationally, people may favour prison due to harsh living conditions outside prison
• do fines meet aims of punishment

  • deterrence - mainly those with low income
  • reparation - repairs crime through financial amendments e.g compensation
  • rehabilitation - teach someone value of money
  • retribution - punishes through loss of money
  • a03 - only affects working class - middle/upper class still reoffend
• do discharges meet aims of punishment

  • deterrence - mainly first time / young offenders
  • retribution/ denunciation - punishment of shame and embarrassment - public criticism
• discharge 


  a type of conviction where a court finds you guilty but does not give you a sentence because the offence is very minor
• fines

  • monetary payment ordered by the court to be paid by defendant
  • given to minor offences e.g minor driving offences, minor theft
  • frequent punishment from magistrates court
  • court takes into account defendants financial circumstance before giving a fine
  • compensation may be paid to victim
• community sentence

  • combines punishment with activities in the community e.g 300 hours unpaid work
  • bromley briefings - use of community sentences has halved since 2006, account for over 9% of all sentences
  • 8.3% more effective than custodial sentences at reducing reoffending rates
  • 70% offenders complete community order