Essay - Criminal Corrections Retribution, Deterrence, Incapacitation & Rehabilitation Since the Beginning...

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Criminal corrections


***** the beginning of recorded history, civilized society has attempted to design and create various methods aimed at decreasing the amount of criminal activity. So far, a number of these methods h*****ve proven to be effective under certain circumstances, yet they have also *****en shown to be ineffective, some more than others. In modern times, society's response to ***** *****havior ***** included many specialized ***** developed by criminologists, psychologists, law ***** legal officials and ***** those involved in penal corrections.

This paper will examine four of the most common methods used today for criminal corrections, ***** known as ***** goals of criminal law—retribution, deterrence, incapacitation and rehabilitation. At the conclusion, one ***** ********** methods ***** be chosen as a representative of the best way to fight criminal behavior, one that will yield the highest benefits ***** society as a whole.

First ***** *****ll, retribution, also ***** as the theory of retributive justice, "assumes that ********** deserve ***** be punished, mostly by long prison terms, as legal revenge for their harm to society." The modern approach to this type of punishment "considers it proper to punish because (criminals) deserve it and the state h***** g***** to ***** trouble of prescribing a *****ment for t*****em" ("Fundamentals of Criminal Law," *****ternet).

This is undoubtedly one ***** the oldest forms of criminal punishment, for ***** *****ten entails long prison sentences based on the severity of the crime committed ***** the individual. In Western society, ***** against ***** has long been a cus*****m, especially in relation to ********** like first-degree murder, kidnapping, rape or felonious assault. Also, retribution guarantees that the criminal ***** be kept off the streets f***** a prolonged period of time and ***** his/her ***** is in l*****e with the will of society as far as punishment is concerned.

Second, deterrence "assumes that fearful *****ties, mostly involving swift restraint, harsh conditions and certain guilt, ***** prevent people from choosing to engage in crime. Specific deterrence focuses on individual *****s, (while) general deterrence focuses on potential criminals" ("Fundamentals of Criminal *****," Internet). It has long been argued whether or not such a thing *****s deterrence truly exists and whether such actions actually deter *****. Logically, if a person decides to commit murder in a state that has the death penalty, he/she may think twice about committing ***** crime, unless it happens ***** be a "spur of the moment" event or due to "the p*****ssion of the *****" (Clear, 126).

***** criminologists agree with ***** assessment ***** deterrence does ***** exist, for they declare that "criminals... do not calculate the risk of being caught ***** *****. ********** are impulsive or opportunists or driven to crime by circumstances" ("Incapacitation and Deterrence," *****). Certainly, as compared to *****, deterrence is a very slippery beast, for it has not ***** adequately proven by any state or federal agency that ***** actually w*****ks unless, of course, the death ***** is carried out, being ***** ultimate deterrent.

*****, ***** is the legal



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