Deterrent, & Preventive approaches

A speed camera on a highway does not care why you slowed down — whether it was fear of a fine or the physical fact that the road narrows ahead. Deterrence works on your fear; prevention works on the situation itself. Punishment theory borrows exactly this contrast to explain two of its forward-looking approaches.

In two minutes

The deterrent approach justifies punishment by the fear of future punishment it creates in the offender and in society generally, while the preventive approach justifies punishment by its direct, physical effect of stopping an offender from committing further wrongs during the period of punishment.

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