Retributive Theories of Punishment

Description: This quiz is designed to assess your understanding of Retributive Theories of Punishment. Answer the following questions to the best of your knowledge.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: sociology deviance and crime retributive theories of punishment
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

Which of the following is NOT a primary goal of retributive theories of punishment?

  1. Deterrence

  2. Rehabilitation

  3. Retribution

  4. Incapacitation


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Retributive theories of punishment focus on punishing offenders as a form of just desert, rather than seeking to deter crime, rehabilitate offenders, or incapacitate them.

According to retributive theories, what is the primary justification for punishment?

  1. To prevent future crimes

  2. To reform the offender

  3. To protect society from the offender

  4. To inflict suffering on the offender


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Retributive theories hold that punishment is justified because it is deserved by the offender, and that the severity of the punishment should be proportional to the severity of the crime.

Which of the following is a common argument against retributive theories of punishment?

  1. They are too harsh and cruel.

  2. They do not deter crime.

  3. They do not rehabilitate offenders.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of retributive theories argue that they are too harsh and cruel, that they do not deter crime, and that they do not rehabilitate offenders.

Which of the following is a prominent retributive theory of punishment?

  1. The just deserts theory

  2. The deterrence theory

  3. The rehabilitation theory

  4. The incapacitation theory


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The just deserts theory is a retributive theory of punishment that holds that punishment is justified because it is deserved by the offender, and that the severity of the punishment should be proportional to the severity of the crime.

According to the just deserts theory, what is the primary purpose of punishment?

  1. To deter future crimes

  2. To reform the offender

  3. To protect society from the offender

  4. To inflict suffering on the offender


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The just deserts theory holds that the primary purpose of punishment is to inflict suffering on the offender as a form of just desert.

Which of the following is a common criticism of the just deserts theory?

  1. It is too harsh and cruel.

  2. It does not deter crime.

  3. It does not rehabilitate offenders.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of the just deserts theory argue that it is too harsh and cruel, that it does not deter crime, and that it does not rehabilitate offenders.

Which of the following is a prominent retributive theorist?

  1. Immanuel Kant

  2. John Stuart Mill

  3. Jeremy Bentham

  4. Cesare Beccaria


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Immanuel Kant is a prominent retributive theorist who argued that punishment is justified because it is deserved by the offender, and that the severity of the punishment should be proportional to the severity of the crime.

According to Kant, what is the primary purpose of punishment?

  1. To deter future crimes

  2. To reform the offender

  3. To protect society from the offender

  4. To inflict suffering on the offender


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Kant argued that the primary purpose of punishment is to inflict suffering on the offender as a form of just desert.

Which of the following is a common criticism of Kant's retributive theory?

  1. It is too harsh and cruel.

  2. It does not deter crime.

  3. It does not rehabilitate offenders.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of Kant's retributive theory argue that it is too harsh and cruel, that it does not deter crime, and that it does not rehabilitate offenders.

Which of the following is a prominent retributive theory of punishment that focuses on the offender's moral culpability?

  1. The just deserts theory

  2. The deterrence theory

  3. The rehabilitation theory

  4. The incapacitation theory


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The just deserts theory is a retributive theory of punishment that focuses on the offender's moral culpability, and holds that the severity of the punishment should be proportional to the offender's degree of culpability.

According to the just deserts theory, what is the primary factor that should be considered when determining the severity of punishment?

  1. The harm caused by the crime

  2. The offender's intent

  3. The offender's prior criminal record

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The just deserts theory holds that the severity of punishment should be determined by considering all of the relevant factors, including the harm caused by the crime, the offender's intent, and the offender's prior criminal record.

Which of the following is a common criticism of the just deserts theory's focus on moral culpability?

  1. It is too subjective.

  2. It does not take into account the offender's circumstances.

  3. It does not deter crime.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of the just deserts theory's focus on moral culpability argue that it is too subjective, that it does not take into account the offender's circumstances, and that it does not deter crime.

Which of the following is a prominent retributive theory of punishment that focuses on the harm caused by the crime?

  1. The just deserts theory

  2. The deterrence theory

  3. The rehabilitation theory

  4. The incapacitation theory


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The deterrence theory is a retributive theory of punishment that focuses on the harm caused by the crime, and holds that the severity of the punishment should be proportional to the harm caused.

According to the deterrence theory, what is the primary purpose of punishment?

  1. To deter future crimes

  2. To reform the offender

  3. To protect society from the offender

  4. To inflict suffering on the offender


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The deterrence theory holds that the primary purpose of punishment is to deter future crimes by making the punishment severe enough to outweigh the benefits of committing the crime.

Which of the following is a common criticism of the deterrence theory?

  1. It is too harsh and cruel.

  2. It does not rehabilitate offenders.

  3. It does not protect society from the offender.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Critics of the deterrence theory argue that it is too harsh and cruel, that it does not rehabilitate offenders, and that it does not protect society from the offender.

- Hide questions