Final answer:
The claim is false; there is no consensus among reputable criminologists that raising the severity of prison sentences will uniformly reduce crime rates. Research indicates that the effectiveness of deterrence strategies is nuanced and varies by crime type and offender profile.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that “no reputable criminologist who has examined the literature on deterrence through sentencing would support the idea that crime rates will be reduced by raising the severity of prison sentences” is false. While there is evidence supporting both sides of the debate, the effectiveness of deterrence through sentencing and its impact on reducing crime rates is not universally agreed upon by criminologists or supported by research. In fact, studies point out that while incarceration may reduce crime by high-risk offenders, it is not necessarily effective for lesser crimes or drug offenses. Increased sentences may have had a deterrent effect in certain cases, such as with gun crimes, but the program 'Scared Straight' intended to deter youths from crime, controversially resulted in increased criminal behavior among participants.
Moreover, the effectiveness of deterrence strategies varies widely based on the type of crime and offender profile. Diversion programs have shown more effectiveness than incarceration for certain groups, such as juveniles.
Therefore, the complexity of the issue suggests that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to sentencing and deterrence, and reputable criminologists have differing views based on the nuances of available data and research