Deterrence has two types. Which pair best represents these two types?

Deterrence has two types. Which pair best represents these two types?

• A. Specific and General
• B. Specific and Individual
• C. Primary and Secondary
• D. Local and Global

Answer: (A)

Deterrence operates on two aims: to discourage the individual offender from reoffending and to deter others in society from offending. The best pair for these two aims is specific deterrence, which targets the punished person to prevent future crimes by that individual, and general deterrence, which uses punishment as a public example to discourage others from committing similar acts. For example, a person who is punished to stop them from repeating the crime shows specific deterrence, while the sight or awareness of that punishment discourages others from committing the same crime. The other term pairings don’t capture the offender-focused versus society-focused distinction as clearly.

Deterrence operates on two aims: to discourage the individual offender from reoffending and to deter others in society from offending. The best pair for these two aims is specific deterrence, which targets the punished person to prevent future crimes by that individual, and general deterrence, which uses punishment as a public example to discourage others from committing similar acts. For example, a person who is punished to stop them from repeating the crime shows specific deterrence, while the sight or awareness of that punishment discourages others from committing the same crime. The other term pairings don’t capture the offender-focused versus society-focused distinction as clearly.