Coercion may be physical or non-violent. Physical coercion may take the form of bodily injury, imprisonment and in some countries the death penalty. Non-violent coercions consists of a strike, boycott or non-cooperation. Prisons clearly use coercion and the threat of loss of liberty. This can be seen in a suspended sentences with the continued threat of custody for future breaking of the law.
Fear of punishment
The use of punishment as a threat to stop people from offending is called deterrence. Deterrence has 2 key assumptions
Individual deterrence
General deterrence
Individual Deterrence
Individual deterrence is punishment imposed on offenders in order to deter or prevent them from committing further crimes. For example, a suspended prison sentence or conditional discharge, where there are other, more serious, consequences for further offending.
General deterrence
The fear of punishment that prevent others from committing similar crimes
A lengthy prison sentence or heavily financial penalty allows others to see the potential consequences and are deterred from committing the same action
