Describe the different aims of sentencing.

Deterrence can as stated individual it can also be general sentence. Individual deterrence is intended to insure that the offender does not re-offend through fear of future punishment. General deterrence is aimed at preventing other potential offenders from committing crimes. Both are aimed at reducing future levels of crime.

Critics of the theory of deterrence argue that offenders are unlikely to stop and consider the possible consequences of their actions - most crimes are committed in the spur of the moment. In addition it is usually the fear of being caught that is more of a deterrent and that while crime detection rates are low, the threat of an unpleasant penalty, if caught, seems to be remote. The value of general deterrence is even more doubtful as potential offenders are rarely deterred by severe penalties passed on others.

The main aim of rehabilitation is to reform the offender and rehabilitate him into society. It is a forward-looking aim, with the hopes that the offender's behaviour will be altered by the penalty imposed, so that he or she will not re-offend in the future (it aims to reduce crime this way)

One aspect of rehabilitation is the use of individualised sentences - penalties aimed at the individual needs of the offender. This is in direct contrast to the concept of set sentences seen in the aim of retribution. One of the criticisms of this approach is, therefore, that it leads to inconsistency in sentencing.

Incapacitation means that in some way the offender is made incapable of re-offending. Its also thought of a protecting the public from the criminal activities of the offender. This is achieved today in Britain by removing dangerous offenders from society through the use of long term prison sentences. There are other penalties that can be viewed as incapacitating the offender, e.g. in driving offences the offender can be banned from driving.

Denunciation is society expressing its disapproval of criminal activity. A sentence should indicate both to the offender and to other people that society condemns certain types of behaviour. It shows people that justice is being done. Denunciation also reinforces society's views on the criminality of particular conduct, e.g. drink driving is now viewed as unacceptable behaviour. This is largely because of the changes in the law and the increasingly severe sentences that are imposed.

Retribution is based on the idea of punishment because the offender deserves punishment for his acts. It does not seek to reduce crime or alter the offender's future behaviour. Retribution is concerned only with the crime . The principle of retribution can be seen as the guidelines laid down by the Court of Appeals as the 'correct' punishment for certain offences. E.g. rape offences should be given a custodial sentence of at least 5 years.

Whenever a person pleads guilty, or is found guilty of an offence, the role of the court is to decide what sentence should be imposed on the offender. Their decisions on sentences usually satisfy a number of the aims described above.