Final answer:
Incapacitation is the type of deterrence intended to prevent a specific offender from committing crimes in the future, which is primarily achieved through imprisonment to avoid recidivism. It is one of the key strategies in the criminal justice system, but its effectiveness, especially for juveniles, is debated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The kind of deterrence designed to stop a particular offender from committing future criminal acts is known as incapacitation. Incapacitation aims to prevent recidivism—the tendency for a convicted criminal to reoffend—by removing the offender from the community through imprisonment. This approach is one of the five basic strategies in criminal justice, alongside retribution, prevention, rehabilitation, and restoration. There is, however, a debate about the effectiveness of incarceration, particularly for juveniles, for whom it is often considered the least effective method. Alternatives like diversion programs may offer more advantageous outcomes, as they do not have the negative consequences associated with juvenile incarceration, such as decreasing the likelihood of returning to school.
Many believe that punitive measures, including jail time, serve as a deterrent. Yet evidence shows that not all deterrent methods, like the 'Scared Straight' program, are successful and can even result in an increase in criminal behavior among youths. Conversely, rehabilitation often has a more positive effect on reducing recidivism, with drug courts being a notable example of a strategy that incorporates treatment into the criminal justice system to help offenders.