Final answer:
Incapacitation is the sentencing goal that aims to prevent offenders from further committing crimes by restricting their opportunities to do so, primarily through imprisonment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentencing goal that focuses on preventing the offender from committing crimes by reducing his or her opportunities for crime is incapacitation. Incapacitation is designed to physically prevent an individual from committing further offenses by detaining them in a controlled environment, such as prison. This contrasts with other criminal justice approaches like rehabilitation, which aims to prevent future crime by transforming the offender's behavior and capabilities through therapeutic, educational, and vocational programs. While incapacitation directly removes the ability to commit crimes, rehabilitation focuses on reducing recidivism through positive personal change, indicating a different philosophy towards handling crime and its prevention.