Purpose of Punishment

Corrections

Retribution

– An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.– Society, through the criminal justice system, taking

on the role of punishing those who violate the law.

Deterrence

• To discourage offenders from committing another offense as well as discourage others from committing an offense.

Rehabilitation

• To help convicted persons to change their behavior so they can return to society and lead useful and productive lives.

Incapacitation

• To physically separate criminals from the community in order to protect the community.

Parole

• This is the release of a person from prison before his or her entire sentence have been served.

• Eligibility for parole is not a right but a privilege .

• Inmates must go before a parole board who makes the decision.

Capital Punishment

• Known as the death penalty.• The first recorded person executed for murder among

the settlers in America was in 1630 by hanging.• Previously, capital punishment was impose for

numerous type of crime however today, it is only imposed for 1st degree murder.

• In 1977 the U.S Supreme court held that the death penalty was an unconstitutional punishment for rape.

• Each State writes its own death penalty laws.

Capital Punishment Cont…

• Jurors are required in most states to determine the death sentence based on aggravating and mitigating circumstances.– Aggravating Circumstances are factors that suggest a

more severe punishment is appropriate, such as a particularly gruesome murder, crimes involving children, or previous convictions of the accused.

– Mitigation Circumstances are factors that suggest that a less serious punishment is appropriate. Examples include a history showing that the victim had previously abused the defendant.

Corrections

• When a person is convicted of a crime the state and federal government have the right to place them in the corrections system

Corrections Cont…

• Concurrent vs. Consecutive Sentencing – Concurrent means serving all sentences at the

same time– Consecutive means serving each sentence, one

after the other.• Example: Billy Bob was convicted of Grand Larceny and 1st degree

Murder and sentenced to 10 years for the grand Larceny and 25 years for the murder. If Mr. Bob is sentenced concurrently, he will do a total of 25years. If Mr. Bob is sentenced consecutively he will do a total of 35years.

Correction Cont….

• The US Supreme Court has said that people who enter prison must give up certain rights– Rights that remain are: • the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.• the right to freedom of religion.• the right to due process.• the right to medical treatment.• the right to access law libraries and the courts.

Prison Overcrowding

– The Current rate of incarceration in the U.S is six to ten times higher than that of most industrial nations.

– This overcrowding is due to our get-tough-on-crime policy.

– As the crime rate fell in the 21st century, prison populations remain high because of longer sentences and the greater willingness to revoke probation and parole.

– Today the cost of maintaining a person in prison ranges from $15,000 to $50,000 per year.