Punishment

PUNISHMENT

ANTHONY PARSONS

12/7/13

SOC/120

TAMI O’CONNOR

Crime is a big issue in life and society, with regards to the methods of punishment to deal with these crimes, it will always be a big issue. As long as there are people living, crime will always happen regardless of how society decides to deal with them. Four of the methods society uses to deal with the punishment of crime are retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and societal protection. Each of these four have a unique and different way of dealing with crime.

Retribution is one of the oldest methods of delivering punishment for crimes committed. The belief behind retribution is that punishment makes the issue of the crime committed at an even level. In other words, to satisfy society, this method of punishment tends to be issued out of revenge or spite against those who have committed crimes against society. There is a feeling of need, as a way to get even with the committers of crime, to give as much pain as those who the crime was committed upon. The idea of retribution is to offer a same level of punishment that could possibly deter people from committing crime. According to Society: The Basics, Eleventh Edition, by John J. Macionis, “When criminality upsets this balance, punishment in equal measure restores the moral order, as suggested in the ancient code calling for “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” In other words, what is good for the victim is good for the committer of crime. Although retribution is the oldest method of punishment for crimes and the one method of punishment method that has been used throughout our history, some might disagree with the method and ways of an eye for an eye type revenge. Retribution may promote fear of retaliation and prevent crime for some, but for those who choose to still commit crime can always be deterred from committing crime by higher risk than the reward.

Another method for dealing with criminal activity and handing out punishment for such...