Three Elements of Deterrence Theory

Criminological Theories and Concepts

• Expected Utility Principle: states that people act to increase benefits and reduce losses, tied to classical criminology and rational choice theory.
• Free Will: the belief that humans are rational and can make decisions according to their own will, understanding the difference between right and wrong.

Classical Criminology

• Based on utilitarian notions of free will and the greatest good for the greatest number.
• Refers to the belief that a crime is committed after weighing pros and cons, and is a rational decision.
• Countered through a deterrence-based system.

Deterrence Theory

• Three elements:
  • Celerity: how quickly an individual is punished after committing a crime.
  • Certainty: how likely it is that an individual will be caught and punished for a crime, considered the most important element.
  • Severity: how harsh the punishment for a crime will be, which must fit the crime to be effective.

Crime Prevention

• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): practices designed to make potential criminal targets less attractive, based on the belief that crime is a rational act.

Notable Individuals

• Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794): Italian nobleman, wrote On Crimes and Punishment (1764).
• Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832): jurist and philosopher, advocated abolishing the death penalty.

Programs and Approaches

• Scared Straight: a program that takes young offenders or potential offenders to a prison environment to expose them to the realities of prison life, aiming to reduce delinquency.
• Shock Incarceration: a brief prison sentence followed by probation, aiming to deter the offender from further criminality.
• Boot Camps: programs using a military model of discipline and order, aiming to have a deterrent effect on young offenders.