Tag Archives: deterrence

Posted on by
15

Most people are not deterred by the threat of punishment, but by their own sense of right and wrong. Most who do commit crimes do so without considering the possible punishment. Deterrence is only a factor in those small number of crimes where the offender consciously weighs the pros and cons of committing a crime. Not crimes of passion, not crimes of desperation, not crimes of mistake, not unthinking crimes, not most crimes of opportunity.


The Illustrated Guide to Criminal Law
Chapter 4: Deterrence 
Page 5: What can be deterred?

NARRATOR

First of all, the vast majority of people are deterred, not by the threat of punishment, but by their own sense of RIGHT and WRONG.

Person flanked by a little guardian angel and demon

As to the small minority who do commit crimes, hardly ANY go through even the most rudimentary cost-benefit analysis beforehand.

Deterrence is only a factor when someone consciously weighs the pros and cons of committing a crime.

Little devil holding pitchfork

LITTLE DEVIL

Get it? CONs!

…convicts?

…never mind.

Passionate man with knife and victim in pool of blood

NARRATOR

Crimes of PASSION? No.

Hand stealing loaf of bread, voice saying “what are you doing, Jean Valjean?”

Crimes of DESPERATION? No.

Guy pleading with police officer “I thought she was 21!”

Crimes of MISTAKE? No.

UNTHINKING crimes? By definition, no.

Many crimes of OPPORTUNITY? No.

Transcript