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Current Events » in reply to Can't imagine how to structure the study

The cited study is available online...
Larry J — (archived)

here. It's a 33 page PDF file. Read it yourself and see how the authors came to their conclusion.

No level of punishment is a deterrent for everyone. We put people in prison for breaking laws. That punishment - denial of freedom - serves two purposes. First, we are trying to punish those who break laws, with the length of the sentence supposedly tied to the severity of the crime. Yet, despite the threat of punishment, we have countless crimes happen every day. It seems obvious that those people aren't being deterred. Perhaps they think they'll never get caught, or perhaps they don't care about the consequences.

However, does that mean that punishment is a complete failure as a punishment? I don't think so. Here's an example, how about we get together and rob a bank or commit some other robbery? Sounds like easy money, right? No, thanks. I have no desire to participate. First, it's wrong and second, I do fear the punishment if I get caught. My life is very good and I don't want to flush it down the toilet. The punishment definitely deters me and I doubt I'm the only one.

If my assumption that punishment deters some people from committing some crimes is correct, then it isn't too much of a stretch to think that capital punishment deters a lot of people from committing first degree murder. Not that deterrence is the central purpose of capital punishment, IMO. The central purpose is to punish the most severe crime with the most severe punishment. Deterrence, if it happens, is a bonus.

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