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    Theories of Punishment

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    Hyder Khan
    There are four main theories of punishment: deterrent, retributive, preventive, and reformative. The deterrent theory aims to discourage future criminal acts through specific deterrence of individuals or general deterrence of the public. The retributive theory focuses on punishing individuals for their crimes in proportion to the offense. The preventive theory seeks to protect society by restraining or isolating criminals. Finally, the reformative theory views punishment as rehabilitation and aims to reform criminals into law-abiding citizens.

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    Theories of Punishment

    Uploaded by

    Hyder Khan
    71 views4 pages
    There are four main theories of punishment: deterrent, retributive, preventive, and reformative. The deterrent theory aims to discourage future criminal acts through specific deterrence of individuals or general deterrence of the public. The retributive theory focuses on punishing individuals for their crimes in proportion to the offense. The preventive theory seeks to protect society by restraining or isolating criminals. Finally, the reformative theory views punishment as rehabilitation and aims to reform criminals into law-abiding citizens.

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    THEORIES OF PUNISHMENT

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    There are four main theories of punishment: deterrent, retributive, preventive, and reformative. The deterrent theory aims to discourage future criminal acts through specific deterrence of individuals or general deterrence of the public. The retributive theory focuses on punishing individuals for their crimes in proportion to the offense. The preventive theory seeks to protect society by restraining or isolating criminals. Finally, the reformative theory views punishment as rehabilitation and aims to reform criminals into law-abiding citizens.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    71 views4 pages

    Theories of Punishment

    Uploaded by

    Hyder Khan
    There are four main theories of punishment: deterrent, retributive, preventive, and reformative. The deterrent theory aims to discourage future criminal acts through specific deterrence of individuals or general deterrence of the public. The retributive theory focuses on punishing individuals for their crimes in proportion to the offense. The preventive theory seeks to protect society by restraining or isolating criminals. Finally, the reformative theory views punishment as rehabilitation and aims to reform criminals into law-abiding citizens.

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    THEORIES OF PUNISHMENT

    Criminal Law-I

    ADAM KHAN
    01-177181-055
    THEORIES OF PUNISHMENT

    Punishment is the imposition of an undesirable or unpleasant outcome upon a group or

    individual, meted out by an authority—in contexts ranging from child discipline to criminal

    law—as a response and deterrent to a particular action or behavior that is deemed undesirable

    or unacceptable. There are different kinds of punishment that a person can face. There are

    majorly four theories of punishment.

    These theories are the

     deterrent theory

     retributive theory

     preventive theory

     reformative theory

    Deterrent Theory

    There are two theories in which this theory can be divided further. They are specific

    deterrence and general deterrence.

    In specific deterrence, punishment is designed such that it can educate the criminals.

    Thus, this can reform the criminals that are subjected to this theory. Also, it is

    maintained that the punishment reforms the criminals. This is done by creating a fear

    that the punishment will be repeated.


    While a general deterrence is designed to avoid future crime. So, this is done by making

    an example of each defendant. Thus, it frightens the citizens to not do what the

    defendant did.

    Retributive theory

    The retributive theory focuses on the crime itself as the reason for imposing punishment.

    Where the utilitarian theory looks forward by basing punishment on social benefits, the

    retributive theory looks backward at the transgression as the basis for punishment.

    According to the retributivist, human beings have free will and are capable of making rational

    decisions. An offender who is insane or otherwise incompetent should not be punished.

    However, a person who makes a conscious choice to upset the balance of society should be

    punished.  retribution against a wrongdoer is justified to protect the legitimate rights of both

    society and the offender. Society shows its respect for the free will of the wrongdoer through

    punishment. Punishment shows respect for the wrongdoer because it allows an offender to

    pay the debt to society and then return to society, theoretically free of guilt and stigma.

    Preventive Theory

    This theory has used a restraint that an offender if repeats the criminal act is culpable for death,

    exile or imprisonment. The theory gets its importance from the notion that society must be

    protected from criminals. Thus, the punishment here is for solidarity and defense.

    The modern criminologists saw the preventive theory from a different view. They first realized

    that the social and economic forces should be removed from society. Also, one must pay
    attention to individuals who show anti-social behavior. This is because of psychological and

    biological handicaps.

    Reformative Theory

    Deterrence and retributive are examples of classical and non-classical philosophies. The

    reformative theory was born out of the positive theory that the focal point of crime is positive

    thinking. Thus, according to this theory, the objective of punishment needs to be reformation by

    the offender.

    So, this is not a punishment virtually but rather a rehabilitative process. Thus, this process helps

    in making a criminal a good citizen as much as possible. Furthermore, it makes the citizen a

    meaningful citizen and an upright straight man.

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