If petty offenses were subject to the same punishment as more serious crimes, offenders would choose the worst crime: this is referred to as the concept of:
A) marginal deterrence.
B) "the tipping point.
C) specific deterrence.
D) general deterrence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Marginal deterrence refers to the idea that the severity of punishment should increase with the severity of the crime to discourage individuals from committing more serious offenses. If all crimes were punished equally, there would be no additional deterrent effect for more severe crimes, potentially leading individuals to commit worse offenses if they believe the punishment will be the same.

If Petty Offenses Were Subject to the Same Punishment as More