NCJ Number
134101
Date Published
1991
Length
305 pages
Annotation
This overview of the punishment of criminals discusses punishment and justice as concept and institution, the social control of crime, and the types of punishment available.
Abstract
For the purposes of this discussion, "punishment" is defined as " a deprivation or suffering, imposed by law." The book first considers the institution of punishment. This includes consideration of guilt, the meaning and value of retribution and vengeance for wrongs done, the concept of a debt owed to society, and the use of punitive threats as a means of reinforcing the behaviors approved by society. A discussion of the concepts of justice, order, and charity is followed by a review of the utilitarian functions of punishment and some indirect effects of punishment. The second major section of the book features chapters that pertain to the control of crime. This includes a series of chapters on what causes crime and whether punishment deters criminal behavior given its causes. The author concludes that certainty and severity of punishment do deter certain types of offenses under various circumstances and certain types of potential offenders. A chapter on what can be done to curb crime suggests laws that will increase clearance rates, increase punishments for repeat offenders, and minimize parole for persons convicted of a second offense. The third major section of the book reviews the nature and effectiveness of various kinds of punishment: capital punishment, fines, and imprisonment. Chapter notes and a subject index.