Theories of Punishment

1
Theories of Punishment

• Why do societies punish wrongdoers?

2
Theories of Punishment

• Aims - To understand why societies punish those
  who break the law

• Tasks - Students to
• define punishment
• working in pairs
• identify key theories
• Take feed back
• show slide 3
• Explain illustrate each theory in greater
  detail using slides 4 8
• Students complete notes
• Students to work out how Christians are divided
  as to the purpose of punishment. Discuss.
  Complete cloze exercise.
• Note key words.

3
Theories of Punishment

• Key words -
• Punishment
• Retribution
• Deterrence
• Reform
• Protection
• Up hold the law / justice seen to be done

4
Retribution

• Retribution - the punishment should make the
  criminal pay for what they have done
• For example principle of an eye for an eye
• eg. death for those who murder

5
Deterrence

• Deterrence - punishments should be very severe
  in order to deter ( put off ) other people from
  doing the same
• For example - if people know they will have a
  hand cut off for theft they will not steal and
  people will not kill if they know they will die

6
Reform

• Reform - criminals should be helped to change
  for the better so they can released into the
  community and live as honest, law abiding
  citizens
• How can this be done?
• Through education leading to qualifications and
  training in skills eg. plumbing, electrician so
  they do not need to resort to crime again

7
Protection

• Protection - innocent members of society need to
  be protected from violent people of those who are
  persistent burglars
• How can this be done? -
• Such offenders should be imprisoned so they are
  no longer a menace / danger to society

8
To uphold the law

• To uphold the law / for justice to be seen to be
  done - so it is clear that no one is above the
  law and to maintain what is right in society
• Why? - to encourage all law abiding citizens to
  continue to obey and respect the law and believe
  that all are equal before the law

9
Christians and Punishment

• Using prior knowledge about the key messages of
  Christianity love, forgiveness, peace
  students should be able to work out what some
  Christians believe to be the purpose of
  punishment.
• Consider teachings of Jesus and examples of him
  putting his teachings into practice to support
  this
• Consider what the alternative purposes of
  punishment are in the eyes of other Christians
  and why they hold these views. Use prior knowledge

10
Key words

• Repent to be sorry for your actions
• Reform - to change for the better
• Redeem to improve your position /restore some
  ones good opinion of you make amends
• Irredeemable - beyond saving/help
• Compensation to pay an agreed sum of money to
  someone for an injury done to them