The sentencing goals of correction are deterrence, punishment, restitution and rehabilitation. Deterrence correctional goal focuses on the evasion of certain tasks by both society and individuals. In consequence of lawbreakers receiving punishment, they are discouraged or deterred from committing crime in the future. There are two types of deterrence, specific and general. Specific deterrence aims at punishing offenders to stop their future criminal deeds while general deterrence prevents possible criminal acts by openly making examples of offenders (Seiter, 2011).
Punishment is the correctional goal that emphasizes on the infliction of suffering or pain. The society believes that punishments help in maintaining moral order. Punishment for improper behavior is not only advisable, but also allowable. It used to educate children from wrong and right.
Rehabilitation is a correction goal that uses treatment to reinstate a criminal. It is stated that criminals are approached as if they were underprivileged, neglected or mentally ill. Treatment begins with making a diagnosis of the criminal’s needs.
Restitution is defined as revenging with the perpetrator. Victims of a crime are not capable of punishing the doer and taking things into their own hands that is where the state intervenes and punishes them on behalf of the victim. The state disciplines a criminal in order to make them suffer. A person who kills another individual and is sentenced to death is an example of restitution.
Incapacitation is another sentencing goal. It reduces criminals’ capacity or ability to commit more crime. Correctional permit restrict criminals chance to continue their criminology. Incapacitation is based on the belief that a criminal commits more than a few crimes over their lifetimes and consequently, crime is barred by their reduced opportunity during this time of criminal sanction
Punishment is the most effective sentencing goal since it mainly focused on the past, in specifically in exchange for the payment of an unlawful violation. The state also brings criminal offenders to justice, acting for society. Through punishment, society can show fairness and maintain order to people who do not break the law.
Reference;
Seiter, R. P. (2011). Corrections: An introduction (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
