Aims of Punishment: Retribution, Deterrence, Rehabilitation and Reparation

Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.

• identifies a first difference, e.g. their focus1 mark
• develops this, e.g. retribution focuses on the offender receiving a deserved, proportionate penalty for the offence already committed1 mark
• identifies a second difference, e.g. their aim for the future1 mark
• develops this, e.g. rehabilitation focuses on changing the offender's future behaviour through education or treatment so they do not reoffend, rather than on punishing the past offence1 mark

Nothing ticked yet - 4 available

Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.

• Award up to 8 marks for a response that identifies and explains relevant points, supported by sociological evidence.2 marks
• 1-2 marks: identifies Durkheim's concept of the collective conscience, the shared values that bind society together.2 marks
• 1-2 marks: explains that punishing an offender publicly reaffirms these shared values by showing society what behaviour is unacceptable, i.e. boundary maintenance.1 mark
• 1-2 marks: uses sociological evidence, e.g. Durkheim's argument that public trials and sentencing serve an expressive rather than purely instrumental function.1 mark
• 1-2 marks: explains that this benefits society as a whole, not just the victim or offender, by strengthening social solidarity and reminding the wider public of shared norms.1 mark
• Full marks require clear explanation linked to named sociological evidence rather than unsupported assertion.1 mark

Nothing ticked yet - 8 available

Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.

• Detailed and accurate knowledge of rehabilitation and at least one alternative aim of punishment. Builds a developed, well-evidenced argument on both sides using named sociologists and reaches a clear, substantiated conclusion.2 marks
• Accurate knowledge of rehabilitation and at least one alternative aim, with named evidence, but the argument or evaluation is less fully developed.2 marks
• Some appropriate knowledge of the aims of punishment but the answer may be one-sided or lack named sociological evidence.2 marks
• Basic, undeveloped knowledge with little clear reference to named aims of punishment.2 marks
• No creditable response.1 mark
• reducing reoffending through education, training and treatment protects future victims better than punishment alone; labelling theory suggests that purely punitive approaches can create a deviant master status that makes reintegration harder and reoffending more likely, so rehabilitation avoids this trap; treating the causes of offending, such as addiction or lack of qualifications, addresses the strain (Merton) that led to the crime in the first place.1 mark
• Durkheim's functionalist view suggests punishment mainly needs to reaffirm shared values through retribution, which rehabilitation alone does not achieve; Marxists argue that focusing on 'reforming' individual offenders distracts from tackling the structural, capitalist causes of crime, such as poverty and inequality; victims and the wider public may see a purely rehabilitative approach as failing to deliver retribution or adequate deterrence for serious offences.1 mark
• a strong answer concludes that rehabilitation is valuable for reducing reoffending and should play a central role, particularly for less serious and first-time offences, but that it cannot be the sole aim, since retribution and deterrence remain important for serious crimes and for maintaining public confidence in the criminal justice system.1 mark

Nothing ticked yet - 12 available