Criminal Justice Practice Exam

What does the term “deterrence” refer to in the context of criminal justice?

1. Correcting behavior of offenders

2. Preventing crime through fear of punishment

3. Incarcerating offenders to protect society

4. Restoring victims to their prior state

The correct answer is: Preventing crime through fear of punishment

The term “deterrence” in the context of criminal justice specifically refers to the strategy of preventing crime by instilling fear of punishment in potential offenders. This concept is based on the belief that if the consequences of engaging in criminal behavior are perceived as severe or likely to occur, individuals will be less inclined to commit offenses. It operates on both general deterrence, which aims to discourage the general population from criminal activity, and specific deterrence, which seeks to prevent reoffending among individuals who have already been punished. In contrast, correcting the behavior of offenders focuses more on rehabilitation and behavior modification rather than prevention through fear. Incarcerating offenders primarily serves the purpose of public safety by removing individuals from society, whereas restorative justice concepts aim to address the needs of victims and the community, working towards restoring justice rather than deterring future crimes. Thus, deterrence is distinctly about using the fear of punishment to influence behavior and reduce crime rates.