Purpose of Punishment

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to explain the five purposes
punishment

You will be able to explain which of the five

punishments you agree with.

You will be able to evaluate the positives and

negatives of each purpose of punishment
 Starter
For each crime, you must decide the
punishment

30 Seconds – think, pair then share!

Stevie stole a bag of crisps from a shop
Andrew went into a shop
and threatened the
shop assistant with a
knife for some scratch
cards and money
Colin raped a young woman on her way
home from work
Two teenagers murdered a two year
old, they lead him to a train track and
tortured him to death.
Samantha’s boyfriend constantly beat
her up. One time she feared for her
life and picked up an iron to hit him
with. She killed him
Terry has just raped an 11
year old girl
Dorothy is an 87 year old pensioner
who is refusing to pay her gas bill.
Malcolm is refusing to pay his parking
fine
Jim is an animal rights activist,
campaigning for his cause by chaining
himself to the gates of a laboratory
Stealing
Up to 5 years imprisonment – cautions, criminal record,
pay a fine –

Knife/ Theft
Threatens shop keeper with knife- Maximum penalty
for an adult carrying a knife is four years in prison and
a fine of £5000
Rape
The penalty for rape is up to life imprisonment but is
not usually given unless there is extreme violence used
or they have committed a similar crime before
Killing abusive partner
They need to prove in court that it was self defence to get
manslaughter

Under current laws, people who kill their partner after years of
abuse are at risk of being convicted of murder, which carries a
life sentence

Pensioner not paying bill

Taken to court and fined- If this is not paid back, short term jail
sentences - this has been the case for a number of pensioners

Paedophilia
Jail sentences depending on the severity of crime e.g.
paedophile internet ring – given 12years, re-offending
paedophile 4 years.Sign Sex offenders register-
cannot be disclosed
Car parking fine
If not paid in 28 days, fine increases. If it is still ignored,
referred to a court/ bailiff

Animal Rights activists

Depends on the actions- Lots of tax payers money spent
on funding the police units who have to deal with such
groups who disturb the peace. One example – an animal
rights extremist got 4 years in jail whilst his accomplice
David Griffiths received a 30 week jail sentence: four
others were found not guilty.
 Types of punishments

http://truetube.co.uk/crime/p
unishment/a-history-of-punish
ment
 5 purposes of punishment
Protection
Retribution
Deterrence,
Reformation
Rehabilitation
 Protection

Society must be protected from

dangerous criminals.

Criminals lose their freedom so others

do not have to worry about their
activities.

Example:
 Retribution (or revenge)
People deserve to take revenge on the
criminal.

It is ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a

tooth’.

Example:
 Reformation

A punishment to change the criminal

so they learn to be a good person

Example:
 Deterrence
Put people off committing crime,
teach them a lesson

Put people off committing crime,

teach them a lesson

Example:
 Rehabilitation
Punishment should prepare the criminal
for a return to a normal, crime free
life.

Example:
 Positive & Negatives
offence Purpose of Punishment
Driving with twice the legal limit of
alcohol

Burglary (third offence)

Drunk and disorderly

Antisocial behaviour

Murder (USA)

Handling stolen goods

Rape

Beating up your partner

 Think?!
Which punishments are the most useful
for:
a) The offender

b) Society

In your jotters for each of the 5 purposes of punishment explain if you

think they benefit the offender or society more – give reasons for your
view!
 Think!
Are all 5 purposes of equal importance?-
What is your opinion?

Complete question 2 on page 13 of your booklet

Use the information on p12 to help you.
 You say we pay
Name the punishment and purpose
 Homework
All questions on P13 must be completed
for Friday.