harmed. Opponents of retributivism recogrize how widespread this feeling is but argue that state punishment should be on a sounder principle than for However, those who hybrid tifications of punishment often include it as an element in their theory IT IGNORES EFFECTS
The main criticism of retributivism is that it pays no attention to the effects of the punishment on the criminal or on society. Questions of deterrence, reform, and protection are irrelevant. According to retributivists, criminals deserve to be punished whether this has a beneficial effect on them or not. Consequentialists object to this on the grounds that no action can be morally right unless it has bene- ficial consequences, to which deontologists might reply that, if an action is morally justified. it is so whatever the consequences DETERRENCE
A common justification of punishment is that it discourages law. breaking: both by the individual who is punished, and by others who are aware that the punishment has taken place and will be meted out to them if they break the law. If you know that you are likely to end up in prison, so the argument goes, you will be less likely to choose a career as a burglar than you would if you thought you could get away without punishment. This justifies punishing even those who will not be reformed by the punishments it is more important that punishment is seen to be the result of crime than that the individual concerned is changed. This sort of justification focuses exclusively on the consequences of punishment. The suf- fering of those who lose their liberty is outweighed by the benefits to society.
CRITICISMS OF DETERRENCE
PUNISHING THE INNOCENT
A very serious criticism of the deterrent theory of punishment is that, at least in its simplest form, it could be used to justify punishing