NCJ Number
15030
Journal
ABSTRACTS ON CRIMINOLOGY AND PENOLOGY Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (MAY/JUNE 1974) Pages: 285-298
Date Published
1974
Length
14 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF GENERAL DETERRENCE, CONDITIONS FOR EFFECTIVE DETERRENCE, AND RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENT SHOWING THAT PUNISHMENT CAN ACT AS A DETERRENT.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR MAINTAINS THAT THE GENERAL BELIEF THAT PUNISHMENT HAS A PREVENTIVE EFFECT HAS NEVER BEEN PROVEN. FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUNISHMENT AS A DETERRENT ARE DISCUSSED. AMONG THESE ARE AWARENESS THAT AN ACTION IS ILLEGAL AND WILL BE PUNISHED, THE PERCEPTION OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE, THE RISK OF DETECTION, AWARENESS OF THE SEVERITY OF PUNISHMENT, THE PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION OF THE OFFENDER, AND THE NEED FOR THE PRODUCT OF THE ILLEGAL ACTION. AN EXPERIMENT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE NETHERLANDS TO TEST PUNISHMENT AS A DETERRENT. AFTER A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WHICH INFORMED MOTORISTS THAT POLICE WOULD BE CHECKING FOR WORN TIRES, AN INTENSIVE ENFORCEMENT DRIVE WAS UNDERTAKEN. THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE MOTORISTS REPLACING WORN TIRES IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CITY WAS COMPARED TO A CONTROL CITY. IT WAS FOUND THAT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBER REPLACED WORN TIRES WHEN THREAT OF DETECTION AND PUNISHMENT WAS HIGH. COMPARISONS WERE ALSO MADE BETWEEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE REACTING TO THE THREAT AND THOSE WHO DID NOT REPLACE WORN TIRES.