Final answer:
Research on general deterrence suggests that the certainty of being caught and punished is the most effective aspect of punishment in deterring crime. Severity may play a role, but the likelihood of apprehension is a stronger deterrent. This is evidenced by policies and environmental changes that increase the perceived risk of detection, leading to crime reduction. Option c is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
General Deterrence and Crime
When considering the aspect of punishment that shows the most promise in terms of affecting crime rates according to research on general deterrence, evidence points towards the certainty of being caught as the most effective deterrent. While severity of punishment can have some impact, it's the likelihood of apprehension and punishment that more strongly influences criminal behavior. For instance, when the certainty of punishment is increased, such as with the introduction of body cameras for police officers, there is an observable deterrence effect. This is further supported by instances where the surety of being apprehended and penalized has resulted in reductions in specific crimes. In contrast, programs like Scared Straight that do not operate on the principle of certain punishment have not only been ineffective but, in some cases, have led to increased crime rates among youths.
Moreover, policies that focus on certainty rather than severity, such as increased surveillance or the likelihood of arrest, have been associated with deterring corporate crime and tax fraud. Similarly, environmental changes like improved lighting, which increases the perception of the risk of detection, can lead to decreased criminal activities. Furthermore, while the United States has traditionally emphasized incarceration as a deterrent, research indicates that for certain groups such as juveniles, alternative measures to incarceration are more effective in preventing further criminal behavior. These alternative measures tend to focus on the certainty of getting caught and facing consequences rather than on the severity of the punishment.
Therefore, despite the complexities of the justice system and the various approaches to crime prevention, the aspect of punishment most promising in affecting crime, as supported by the research on general deterrence, is certainty.