Case: The Purpose of Criminal Punishment
1. Offenders are punished because we hold them accountable and responsible for their actions. Explain by reference to the various theories of punishment.
2. Does deterrence work? Explain with examples.
3. How can just deserts theory be criticized, and why has just deserts become the predominant view in penal policy?
4. Contrast rehabilitation and incapacitation as theories of punishment, explaining their justification, their operation, and the criticisms that have been made of them.
5. What advantage would society gain if restorative justice were the only method of punishment? In your answer consider all the advantages and disadvantages offered by a restorative jute approach to punishment.
6. Contrast the philosophical and sociological perspectives on punishment.
7. What is the lex talionis, and what are its drawbacks as a loon of punishment?