2016•Oxford University Press eBooksRequires access
4. Utility and deterrence
Susan Easton, Christine Piper
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Abstract
This chapter examines the utilitarian justification for punishment: an approach that focuses on the consequences or outcomes of sentencing and punishment. It discusses the origins of this approach in the work of Beccaria and Bentham, and its modern expression in the work of writers such as Wilson and Kennedy. Focusing on the specific outcome of deterrence, the chapter begins by reviewing its role in current sentencing practice and policy. It later considers whether punishment is effective in reducing offending, and reviews the available research and the problems that arise in establishing a deterrent effect. It also considers some of the difficulties with the utilitarian justification for punishment.