The Purpose of Punishment

What is the purpose of punishment? One purpose is obviously to reform the offender, to correct the offender’s moral attitudes and anti-social behaviour and to rehabilitate him or her, which means to assist the offender to return to normal life as a useful member of the community. Punishment can also be seen as a deterrent because it warns other people of what will happen if they are tempted to break the law and so prevents them from doing so. However, a third purpose of punishment lies, perhaps, in society’s desire for retribution, which basically means revenge. In other words, don’t we feel that a wrongdoer should suffer for his misdeeds? The form of punishment should also be considered.

On the one hand, some believe that we should “make the punishment fit the crime”. Those who steal from others should be deprived of their own property to ensure that criminals are left in no doubt that crime doesn’t pay. For those who attack others corporal punishment should be used. Murderers should be subject to the principal “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” and automatically receive the death penalty.

On the other hand, it is said that such views are reasonable, cruel and barbaric and we should show a more humane attitude to punishment and try to understand why a person commits a crime and how society has failed to enable him to live a respectable, law-abiding life.

There are different types of misdeeds and crimes, among them are: drug smuggling, pickpocketing, shop-lifting, kidnapping, fraud, arson, theft, drinking and driving, murdering, selling drugs and others. Some of them are minor misdemeanors, some are very serious crimes.

There are different kinds of penalties in England. There are no minimum sentences, except for murder, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment. There are maximum sentences for other crimes. Crimes are first heard by a magistrate who can either pass sentence, or refer the crime to a Crown Court with a judge and jury. Here are maximum sentences for some crimes. Sentences can be reduced for good behaviour, often by one-third or more. " Life sentences" are rarely more than 14 years, and it would be possible to release prisoners after 7 years.

There are the general types of punishment in England: prison; suspended sentences: the offender does not go to prison unless he or she commits another offence; probation: normal life at home, but under supervision; youth custody in special centres for young adults; short disciplinary training in a detention centre; community service: decorating old people's houses, etc; compensation: paying, or working for one's victim; fines: the punishment in 80 per cent of cases; disqualification from driving; fixed penalty fines: especially for parking offences.

Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.

1. What is the purpose of punishment?

2. Are there different misdeeds and crimes? Name some of them.

3. Where are crimes heard first?

4. When can sentences be reduced?

5. What are the general types of punishment in England?