1. AS Law
Penal System
Aims of sentencing and
reoffending rates
By Mrs Hilton

2. Learning Objectives
To be able to name all 6 sentencing

aims

3. Factors affecting decision
Magistrate will decide sentence

Judge in Crown Court will decide

Option chosen based on many factors:

◦ Type of offence
◦ Min and max sentence available
◦ Circumstance of offence
◦ Age of defendant
◦ Background of D
◦ Possibly a pre-sentencing report as well (by
probation service)

4. Aims of sentencing (revision)
Coming up on next few slides in more

detail:
 Retribution
 Rehabilitation
 Reparation
 Deterrence
 Denunciation
 Protection of the public

5. Retribution
Aim is to punish

offender
 An eye for an eye
...
 If knowingly done
wrong deserves to
be punished
 Society expects
this

6. Rehabilitation
Offender is helped

to solve issues
behind criminal
behaviour

7. Reparation
Based on notion

that offender
makes amends for
their crime

8. Deterrence
Aim to punish criminals to deter people from

offending
 Reduces number of offences committed
 Specific (to individual)
 General
Discussion, knife crime are jail terms a real

deterrence?

9. Denunciation
Name and shame

offenders

10. Protection of the public
Used as a

justification for
punishment and
imprisonment

11. Reoffending rates
Now look at

notes and
take part in
reoffending
discussion