AC 2.3

• What are the five aims of sentencing according to the Criminal Justice Act 2003?

  1. Punishment of offenders (retribution) 2. Crime reduction (deterrence) 3. Rehabilitation of offenders 4. Protection of the public (incapacitation) 5. Reparation to victims
• What are the four basic types of sentences that courts can use to punish offenders?

  • Imprisonment
  • Community sentences
  • Fines
  • Discharges
• Why are prison sentences handed down by courts?

  For the most serious offences or to protect the public by removing the offender from society.
• What percentage of prisoners in the UK were convicted of sex or violence offences?

  Almost half.
• What are the three kinds of prison sentences in the UK?

  • Life sentences
  • Indeterminate sentences
  • Determinate sentences
• What is a life sentence in the UK?


  A life sentence is the most serious punishment, where the judge sets a minimum time before the offender can be considered for release.
• What happens after the minimum time of a life sentence is served?

  The Parole Board assesses whether the offender is safe to be released on licence.
• What are mandatory life sentences given for?

  Mandatory life sentences must be given for murder.
• What are indeterminate sentences?

  Indeterminate sentences set a minimum time that must be served, but release is not guaranteed after that time.
• What percentage of the prison population in the UK are serving indeterminate sentences?

  About 14%.
• What was the status of IPP sentences in 2019?

  IPP sentences were ruled unlawful in 2012 and abolished for new cases, but about 2,200 IPP prisoners remained in 2019.
• What is a determinate sentence?


  • A sentence with a fixed length.
  • Most prisoners in the UK serve determinate sentences.
  • Offenders typically spend half their sentence in prison and half in the community on licence.
• What happens if an offender breaches their licence conditions after serving a determinate sentence?

  The offender could be recalled to prison for all or part of their sentence.
• What is a suspended sentence?


  A suspended sentence is a prison sentence that is not served immediately, allowing the offender to meet certain requirements.
• What happens if an offender commits another offence during the suspension period of a suspended sentence?

  The court can send them to prison to serve their original sentence.
• Does imprisonment effectively meet the aims of punishment outlined in the Criminal Justice Act 2003?

  Imprisonment has mixed effectiveness in meeting the aims of punishment.
• What is retribution in the context of punishment?

  Retribution is the belief that offenders deserve to be punished for their crimes.
• How does imprisonment serve as a deterrent?

  Imprisonment is argued to deter would-be offenders from committing crimes due to the risk of being sent to prison.
• What is the issue with deterrence as a function of imprisonment?

  High re-offending rates suggest that prison is not an effective deterrent for many offenders.
• How does imprisonment provide public protection?

  Imprisonment protects the public by removing offenders from circulation.
• What is the impact of whole life sentences on public protection?


  Whole life sentences keep offenders permanently off the streets.
• What is a potential negative effect of imprisonment on offenders?

  Prison can be a school for crime, where prisoners acquire skills that may lead to further offending.
• What is reparation in the context of punishment?

  Reparation aims for the offender to repair the damage caused by their offence to the victim and society.
• How effective is imprisonment in achieving rehabilitation?


  Prison has a poor record of reducing re-offending.
• What percentage of prisoners re-offend within a year of their release?

  48% of prisoners re-offend within a year of their release.
• What is the impact of short prison sentences on rehabilitation?

  Short prison sentences are less effective than community sentences in reducing re-offending.
• What challenges do short prison sentences present for addressing long-term problems?

  There is not enough time to address long-term issues like mental health or addiction.
• What did former Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke say about short prison sentences?

  He stated it is virtually impossible to do anything productive with offenders on short sentences.
• What are the key issues surrounding the effectiveness of imprisonment as a punishment?

  • Mixed effectiveness in meeting punishment aims.
  • High re-offending rates.
  • Short sentences limit rehabilitation opportunities.
  • Prison can lead to further criminal behavior.
  • Costly to keep individuals in prison.
• What is the goal of rehabilitation in imprisonment?

  To ensure that offenders no longer offend and lead a crime-free life
• What is the re-offending rate of prisoners within a year of their release?

  4% of prisoners re-offend within a year of their release
• How does the re-offending rate change for those who served a sentence of less than 12 months?

  The figure rises to 64% for those who served a sentence of less than 12 months
• How many prisoners were recalled to prison for breaching their license conditions in 2019?

  789 prisoners were recalled to prison for breaching their license conditions in 2019
• What is one reason for the high re-offending rates among short-sentence prisoners?

  Short sentences do not provide enough time to address long-term problems that cause offending
• What did former Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke say about short prison sentences?

  He stated it is virtually impossible to do anything productive with offenders on short sentences
• How do short prison sentences compare to community sentences in reducing re-offending?

  Short prison sentences have been found to be less effective than community sentences in reducing re-offending
• What percentage of prisoners have a job to go to upon release?

  Only a quarter of prisoners have a job to go to on release
• What is a significant barrier for prisoners in finding employment upon release?

  Many prisoners lack the education or skills needed for employment
• What percentage of prisoners have literacy skills equivalent to an 11-year-old?

  Over half of prisoners have literacy skills of an 11-year-old
• What is the purpose of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL)?


  ROTL allows prisoners out of prison on day release to work or train and improve their future job prospects