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The main purpose of Imprisonment is to warn other potential offenders of the consequences of breaking the law'. With which theory is this statement consistent?

a) Egalitarianism
b) Desert Theory
c) Utilitarianism
d) Retributivism

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The statement aligns with the theory of utilitarianism option (c), which focuses on deterrence to prevent future crimes and differs from retributivism, desert theory, and egalitarianism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement "The main purpose of Imprisonment is to warn other potential offenders of the consequences of breaking the law' is consistent with the theory of utilitarianism option (c). Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that posits that the best action is the one that maximizes utility, typically defined as that which produces the greatest well-being of the greatest number of people. Imprisonment as a deterrent is aimed at preventing future crime by making an example of those who are punished. This differs from retributivism, which argues that people should be punished because they deserve it, desert theory, which focuses on giving people what they deserve based on their moral standing, and egalitarianism, which concerns itself with equal treatment and distribution of resources rather than punishment.

Rehabilitation and the idea of providing a chance for reform to the incarcerated stand in contrast to utilitarianism and focus on reforming the individual rather than deterring others. This is often debated alongside capital punishment and sentencing guidelines, including for juveniles, where the effectiveness of incarceration as a deterrent is questioned.

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