Correctional Theories Discussion

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Discussion #1: Theories of Punishment

Thoroughly discuss the seven theories/philosophical justifications of punishment, including criticisms of those theories/evidence of their effectiveness.

I will discuss the philosophical justifications that are used for justifying punishment by elucidating upon the four primary punitive theories that are used to punish offenders in society as well as their historical relevancy. The most earliest principle of punishment is retribution, in which the justification for punishing offenders is predicated upon giving the offender the same punitive measures that were netted in the crime that was committed. In this sense, if someone commits a murder, they should be executed for taking the life of another person as they are being punished with the same justice that would equal the crime that they committed. This was the earliest form of punishment used in the history of mankind and it primarily emanated from religious doctrine.

The next form of punishment was "just deserts" retribution wherein the initial retribution model was revised to ensure that any punishment that was given would fit the moral depravity associated with the crime that was committed. Although this particular facet is similar to the original form of retribution, the caveat is that under this form of retribution, the offender's characteristics was included within the equation to account for age, mental defect, etc.

Incapacitation as a form of punishment is predicated upon the belief that offenders would be barred from engaging in similar forms of criminality if they were removed from society and had any opportunity to engage in this behavior eliminated. Therefore, different forms of restraint have been utilized throughout history to accomplish this goal, which include banishment in the earliest civilizations, transporting undesirable convicts to other areas such as the practices utilized by the British in regard to their transport of their British convicts to Australia, and even exile of politically undesirable citizens wherein "political prisoners" are physically removed from their communities in an attempt to stifle their voices. In essence, incapacitating offenders is predicated upon the punitive belief that restricting the person from possessing the physical opportunity to engage in the criminal behavior will lead to the person being unable to re-offend. Incarceration in 21st century society is another form of incapacitation that is used by society.

Rehabilitation is another form of punishment that is used, despite the fact that most people don't associate it with punitive measures. The fact that the person is required to undergo treatment, education, and training that is mandated and required by the court, guarantees that this form of punishment is punitive in nature as failing to engage in these actions will result in the offender being actually sent to prison for incapacitation and confinement.
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Resotrative punishment, which is a relatively new concept is another form of punitive sanction that requires the offender to restore the person that ...