Criminal Justice Ethics
Fourth Edition
Discussion Questions
- Many of the early deterrent punishments were brutal and public. Do you think that if we had more public punishments today that punishments would have a greater deterrent effect?
- How much punishment must we hand out in order for it to have a deterrent effect on crime? How much would Beccaria say is needed? Would Bentham agree?
- Is there really that much difference between incapacitation and retribution? Explain your position.
- Read Case Study 5.1. What purpose do you believe corporal punishment serves? Was it too severe a penalty in Michael Fay’s case? What would you have done if you could decide his punishment?