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The Criminal Process and the Criminal Courts

The aims and theories of sentencing

  • 3 things to know
  • AS Unit 1

Overview

Statutory purposes of sentencing an adult offender, retribution as an aim of sentencing and denunciation as an aim of sentencing.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

State the statutory purposes of sentencing an adult offender.

Key term

Explain retribution as an aim of sentencing.

Key term

Distinguish individual deterrence from general deterrence.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    State the statutory purposes of sentencing an adult offender.

    Model answer

    A court must have regard to the punishment of offenders, the reduction of crime including by deterrence, the reform and rehabilitation of offenders, the protection of the public, and the making of reparation to those affected by the offence.

  2. 2

    Explain retribution as an aim of sentencing.

    Model answer

    Retribution treats punishment as deserved for its own sake, so the sentence should be proportionate to the seriousness of what was done rather than calculated to achieve any future benefit.

  3. 3

    Explain denunciation as an aim of sentencing.

    Model answer

    Denunciation uses the sentence to express society's condemnation of the conduct and to reinforce the moral boundary the offence crossed, which is why a sentence may exceed what deterrence alone would require.

  4. 4

    Distinguish individual deterrence from general deterrence.

    Model answer

    Individual deterrence aims to discourage this offender from reoffending, while general deterrence aims to discourage other people by making an example of the sentence passed.

  5. 5

    Give the main criticism of general deterrence.

    Model answer

    It punishes one offender more heavily in order to influence others, which is hard to justify as deserved, and it assumes a calculation of risk that most offenders do not in fact make.

  6. 6

    Explain rehabilitation as an aim of sentencing.

    Model answer

    Rehabilitation seeks to change the offender's future behaviour through treatment, education, training or supervision, and it explains community orders with rehabilitation activity or drug treatment requirements.

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