SOC 3740 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Law School Admission Test, Forward Look, Social Control
Document Summary
Justifications & purposes of punishment: retributive perspectives backword look approach, retribution, denunciation, utilitarian perspectives forward look approach. Incapacitation: deterrence, rehabilitation, sentencing in canada, critique of s. 718 of the criminal code. What purposes or rationales does punishment serve: maintain civility/harmony/order within society, make sure rules are followed and reinforced, denunciation public condemnation, teaches wrongdoers about society" norms and sets and example, deterrence (of both the offender and others) What are the most important objectives our penal system should achieve: there is a lot of things the public wants to be achieved when sentencing, deterrence is a huge factor for both young and adult offenders. Incapacitation for youth was ranked lowest in order to allow for rehabilitation. Retribution/just deserts: people have free will and are capable of rational decision-making, should be punished if the choice was consciously made. Idea involves protecting the legitimate rights of society and offenders. Society shows its respect of the offenders free will through punishment.