7 Sentencing, Corrections, and Reentry Free Online FlashCards

What five goals can sentencing and corrections serve?

The five goals are punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

How do general and specific deterrence differ?

General deterrence seeks to discourage the public from offending; specific deterrence seeks to discourage the sentenced person from offending again.

What tends to deter crime more than increasing sentence severity?

The perceived certainty of being caught generally deters more effectively than increasing punishment severity; longer sentences are not automatically stronger deterrents.

What is incapacitation, and what must be weighed against it?

Incapacitation prevents someone from committing offenses in the community while confined. Its protective effect must be weighed against confinement costs and possible barriers to later reintegration.

What does rehabilitation aim to build?

Rehabilitation builds capacities that support lawful behavior, such as problem-solving, education, employment skills, or substance-use treatment. Outcomes vary by program; no single program works for everyone.

What kinds of support can promote reintegration?

Reintegration supports return to community life through connections to family, housing, work, health care, and appropriate community supervision.

What are some consequences of incarceration beyond loss of liberty?

Incarceration can disrupt family relationships and create health challenges, reduced employment prospects, and obstacles to housing or civic participation. Effects can extend to families and neighborhoods.

Why does a sentencing disparity alone not establish its cause?

A disparity in outcomes does not by itself establish its cause. Assessment requires examining comparable cases, relevant factors, and how discretion and policies operate at each stage.

How should decision-makers assess different sentences in similar cases?

If people with similar offenses and records receive different sentences, decision-makers should examine whether legally relevant differences explain the gap or whether discretionary practices contribute to it.

When can reentry preparation begin, and what can it include?

Reentry preparation can begin before release with identification documents, health-care continuity, treatment planning, education or job training, housing arrangements, and community connections.

How can difficult supervision conditions affect reentry?

Conditions that are difficult to meet may create violations and a return to custody. Effective reintegration balances accountability with realistic, individualized assistance.

Why are common measures of recidivism not interchangeable?

Recidivism may be measured by rearrest, reconviction, or return to incarceration. These are not interchangeable: an arrest is not a conviction, and custody may follow a supervision violation rather than a new sentence.