Punishment as a Deterrent to Crim

Abstract

Crime deterrence has intrigued authorities, philoso­phers, politicians, laymen, clergy, and societal planners ever since Cain murdered Abel. Amazingly, these thinkers have come up with many conflicting theories as to the success or failure of crime deterrence. The only consistent theme reiterated in all of these reports is that there appears to be no conclusive answer, let along a formula by which to gauge one.