Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Criminological Theories of General and Specific Deterrence. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 6 page paper which considers the historical evolution of these deterrence-based theories, discusses the school of criminology from which they come, and their relationship to broader sociological theories. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TG15_TGdeternce.rtf
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
belief - one that seems to transcend all geographical and cultural boundaries - that crime can only be reduced if it can be deterred or prevented. Deterrence is a
term that was developed by early sociologists (long before there was a separate school of social science known as criminology) to describe the halting of a certain socially destructive behavior
"in whole or in part because he/she perceives and fears some threat of punishment" (Gibbs 255). In the criminal justice interpretation of deterrence theory, the emphasis is placed squarely
on the punishment (Gibbs 255). As the field of criminology evolved, the concept of deterrence was deemed too broad; therefore, two offshoots emerged - general deterrence and specific deterrence.
Although it was not referred to as such, the ancient Greeks modeled their approach to maintaining law and order in a democracy along the lines of general deterrence,
which rests on the premise that the threat of punishment is sufficient to keep societys members from breaking the law (Gibbs 255). General deterrence uses criminals as an example
to keep others in line, and so the greater the crime, the more severe the sentence imposed as a way of deterring other citizens from committing the same behavior (Renteln
192). General deterrence operates under the assumption that no matter how civilized people become, there is still a tendency toward violence if there is no fear of retribution.
Laws are often formulated with this in mind - that punishment must be enforced so that the probability of such aberrant behavior is significantly decreased. General deterrence philosophy motivates
such crime-reduction programs as harsher penalties for driving while intoxicated, special police units to address gang-related, drug trafficking, and sexual offenses, and of course the enforcement of the death penalty
...