Custodial scentencing

• What are the aims of custodial sentencing?

  DeterrenceStop them reoffending, they are punished

  IncapacitationTo protect the public from the criminal

  RetributionConsolidate victims, offenders are punished and pay a price. Suffering = crime severity

  RehabilitationTeach prisoners right from wrong, develop skills. A chance to contribute to society
• Psychological effects of custodial sentencing

  Stress and depression

  High suicide, self harm rates. Can be long term after being released

  
  

  Institutionalisation

  Unable to function outside of prison life, used to the norms

  
  

  Prisonation

  Conforming to the norms of the prison, these behaviours may not be acceptable in the outside world.
• Recidivism

  Reoffending, a relapse on criminal behaviour.

  57% of offenders reoffend within a year.
• AO3 - Supporting research :)

  Supports psychological effects

  
  

  In this experiment in a mock prison there were mad psychological effects on the inmates

  
  

  ALSO

  Prison trust reform found that 25% of women and 15% of men reported psychosis based symptoms.
• AO3 - Cause and effect :(

  Did their bad mental health exist before they were put in prison??We don't know
• AO3 - Acceptable? :)

  Some say a decline in mental health is a necessary punishment and a consequence of their actions
• AO3 - Recidivism rates :(

  Some say custodial sentencing is not effective as their is a high recidivism rate.

  
  

  Many crimes go unreported, so recidivism rate is probably higher than we think.
• AO3 - Prisonation

  Skills learnt in prison make it more likely for people to reoffend. Prison may be making more offending behaviour than stopping it.