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The Various Theories of Punishment in Criminal Law

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The Various Theories of Punishment in Criminal Law
Assignment 1: Criminal law

1) Elaborate the various theories of punishment in Criminal Law (10m)

There are four theories of punishments, namely, retribution theory, deterrent theory, and reformation theory. Firstly, a kid who falls down and kicks the floor inadvertently. Generally, it is believed to be a firm of taking revenge and would not serve only penal purpose. Deterrent theory by punishing the offenders deters the wrongdoer specially and deters the general public also by punishing him and refrain them from committing an act. If a society has laws, it must also have punishments for those who break the laws. In the UK, when someone is found guilty of a crime, a judge or magistrate makes a judgment on what their punishment should be. The main aim of punishment is to try to make sense that everyone obeys the law. However, there are different theories about what is the most effective form of punishment and what it should do.

First and foremost, the theory of punishment is retribution theory. Retribution is probably the oldest and most ancient justification for punishment, according to which a wrong is made right by an offender’s receiving his just deserts. Retribution is the theory that criminals should pay for their crime. Most of the people think this should be the main reason for punishment because it makes criminals suffer for what they have done wrong. Criminals make their victims suffer, whenever the criminals should also suffer of the code of Hammurabi (An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth), it has been urged by leaders and accepted by the general public that the criminal deserves to suffer. Among the ancient Jews even animals which killed human being were regarded as contaminated and were got rid for the good from the community. Many authorities have attempted to base the forms of human punishment on instinctive reactions, which might variously be called wrath, anger, resentment or revenge. Retribution theory intends

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