The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 4: Deterrence
Page 7: Perception is everything
NARRATOR
For both specific and general deterrence, the AMOUNT of punishment matters surprisingly little.
Average Joe talking head
AVERAGE JOE
After all, how many people even KNOW how much time any particular person got for any particular crime?
Apart from criminal lawyers and experienced offenders, almost NOBODY has any idea how much punishment they’re actually facing—if any.
NARRATOR
What matters most instead is the threat that SOME punishment will be imposed…
…in other words, it is the PERCEPTION that one is likely to be punished (if caught) that is the deterrent.
