Which form of deterrence uses the threat of punishment to prevent future offenses by the individual offender?

Which form of deterrence uses the threat of punishment to prevent future offenses by the individual offender?

• A. General Deterrence
• B. Deterrence Through Rehabilitation
• C. Specific Deterrence
• D. Incapacitation

Answer: (C)

Deterrence in criminology involves using punishment to discourage crime, and the form focused on the individual offender is specific deterrence. It targets the same person, aiming to prevent them from committing crimes again by making the consequences clear and feared. The idea is that if this offender expects punishment in the future, they’ll restrain their behavior going forward.

This differs from general deterrence, which tries to discourage others in society by showing that crime leads to punishment. It also differs from rehabilitation, which seeks to reform the offender so they won’t offend again, not just intimidate them with punishment. Incapacitation removes the offender’s ability to offend by confinement, rather than using a threat to alter their future behavior.