If the punishment of crimes makes it less likely that individuals are less likely to commit crimes,it is called ______.
A)specific deterrence
B)recidivism
C)general deterrence
D)public deterrence

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

General deterrence is the idea that punishment of crimes deters not only the individual who committed the crime but also others who may be considering committing a crime. This is done in order to prevent future crimes from being committed. Specific deterrence refers to the idea that punishment deters the individual from committing future crimes, while recidivism refers to the likelihood of an individual repeating a criminal offense after being punished for it. Public deterrence refers to the use of punishment as a means of convincing the public that the criminal justice system is effective, which may deter them from committing crimes. However, it is not a commonly used term within the field of criminology.

If the Punishment of Crimes Makes It Less Likely That