Law Homework Help

Assignment 1 Discussion

The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week on the basis of the course competencies covered. For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by the due date. Provide a detailed response to the topic questions in the Discussion Area. For this assignment, post your responses directly to the Discussion Area; do not attach any documents.

To support your work, make sure you use your course and text readings. When asked, also use outside sources. As in all assignments, cite the sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.

Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible. Respond to at least two of your classmates. Participate in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Complete your participation for this assignment by the due date.

The Purpose of Punishment

People have varying viewpoints on the purpose of punishment. The five purposes of punishment are incapacitation, rehabilitation, deterrence, retribution, and restoration. Consider the following scenario:

John Smith was robbing a 7-11 convenience store when a customer tackled him from behind and his gun went off. The clerk was killed, and Smith was found guilty of capital murder.

On the basis of the scenario, answer the following questions:

• Determine how each of the five purposes of punishment influences the correctional processes and correctional facilities. Which purpose of punishment would be best utilized in this instance?
• How are a correctional facility’s structure and procedures influenced by the purpose it is trying to achieve? For instance, a facility that aims to achieve rehabilitation will be designed and run differently than a facility that aims to achieve incapacitation.
• Do you think it is appropriate for a state to punish someone solely for retribution? Also, discuss which purposes you believe capital punishment aims to achieve.