Punishment Research

The types of punishment fall into four categories, which are retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and societal protection.  Retribution is the oldest justification for punishment, plus punishments in societies in revenge for a moral wrong, and in principal punishment should be equal as a crime itself.  Deterrence is an early modern approach.  The crime is considered a social disruption in which society acts to control.  People are viewed as rational and self interested.  Deterrence works with the pain of punishment outweighs the pleasures of crime.  Retribution is a modern strategy linked to the development of social sciences.  Crimes and other deviance as viewed as a result of social problems, poverty and personal problems such as mental illness.  Social conditions are improved and treatment is tailored to the offender’s condition.  Social protection is a modern approach is to carry out than rehabilitation.  When society is unable and unwilling to rehabilitate offenders or reform social conditions, people are protected by the imprisonment or execution of the offender. 

Rehabilitation is the best of form of punishment because it helps them function in society, especially since ex cons have trouble fitting in and can not find work.  If the individual has been in prison, they are automatically assume the individual is dishonest and a thief, including violence.  Former prisoners are stratification to think once in prison the person is a deviate to society, making it difficult for them to return to work and fit back in to society. 

Retribution seems wrong to me that some crimes and some people are innocent but convicted guilty that retribution is based on revenge, in principal, punishment should be dealt out equally and severity to the crime itself.  Deterrence works to disrupt society, which is in control of the prisoner.  Basically, the pain of punishment outweighs the pleasure of the crime.  Social protection works when society is unable or unwilling to rehabilitate offenders or reform social conditions, making the people feel that they consider the imprisonment or execution of the offender.

History and culture reveal that punishment and society can be brought together as the same.  Social theory does give contrast as the society can comprehend what punishment in America in the social structure.  Americans focus on the punishment and social theory, revealing the evidence that the concept of power in relationships.  Social control and the people that inherent to what punishments are while focusing shows the opportunity to give a piece of the theory, understanding criminal punishment and make criminal justice policies now and for the future.  In essence, punishment represents more rational understanding of punishment sentiment, requiring a more simple approach to the meaning of punishment giving control and domination that make up the punishment in modern society.  The norms and laws of society must be necessarily control on the social behavior in society that makes behavior one of the rules in laws.  The question is, “Does punishment merit the crime?”  I am wondering what the true punishment is for the criminal.  When a prisoner goes back into society, he is treated like a criminal outside of social circles; the prisoner is classes as untrustworthy and generally a deviate.  When the prisoner serves time of punishment and has already served the time in prison, at what time does the punishment cease.  Looking at first degree murder, I do not look at it as punishment to kill them.  The worst punishment is to keep them alive, making them suffer for the action of their crime.  The same is true for robbery, drugs, rape, driving under the influence, and breaking in an entry.  It seems that if criminals are punished by thrown out of society, when the criminals are allow to re-enter society. 

In essence, the liberal democracy and their values are those were all humans were deemed to inherent dignity with equal moral standings.  The major assumption of the viewpoint is that any punishment should be inclusive of offenders rather than exclusive.  Those individuals are breaking the law should be held to account; they have committed harmful actions against others.  The guilty ought to approach as beings of value, dignity, and respective of the administrating punishment.  The notion of equal moral status means that punishment should seek to persuade rather than force offenders to take responsibility for their crimes.  Offenders are viewed as members of society and its’ moral community.   Prisoners are taken for granted that the aim of punishment is to communicate the wrongness of their actions so they have an opportunity to redeem themselves and ultimately be reconciling to the community.  (Duff, 2001: Ward & Salmon 2009)

Communicative theory and practice from a practice point of view, secular repentance take seriously the moral agency of offenders and the importance of their appreciating the harm they have inflicted on victims and community.  The reform element in communicative theory referred by the offender, becoming motivated to change his or herself and behavior for ethical as well as credential reasons.  The realization that the offenders wrongly have caused other people to suffer will lead to a firm resolution to do what is necessary, making sure they do not do it again.

Prison amongst our system of correction is keeping criminals off the streets.  The thought of going to prison hopefully will scare people from breaking the law.  However, the evidence suggests that keeping offenders from committing crimes and ultimately out of prison.  Prisons are very expensive to run, costing the American citizens many tax dollars to keep them open.

Probation is a policy of permitting convicting criminals to live in the community with many restrictions by the court.  Including regular monitoring, the courts requests a prisoner to stay on probation, take a drug test, receive counseling, can not associate with known criminals, carry a weapon, and hold down a job.  For those prisoners on probation not live up to those rules that the court set upon them or commit a new crime, they will put in back to prison serve the remainder of their sentence.  Some may see this as a disadvantage, but is an advantage to the prisoner so he could leave jail early.

In conclusion, there are many good advantages for society that the prisoner is off the street and arriving at the jail house, other than the cost of running the jail house and feeding the prisoners is a disadvantage to society.  For the prisoner who is off the street and in jail is receiving three meals a day, receiving medical attention, and learning new skills through programs within the prison.  When the prisoner is placed on parole or probation, the prisoners have difficulties to adjust the outside world so they usually recommit a crime and are placed back in prison.