The Deterrent Influence of Punishment

Abstract

The general disrepute of the "classical" school of criminology and of the theory that capital punishment deters murder has led many investigators to assume that punishment, as administered through formal sanctioning agencies, does not prevent norm vio lation. An intensive study of parking violators indicates that, at least in this limited area, an increase in the severity and certainty of punishment does act as a deterrent to further violation. These findings suggest the necessity for a reappraisal of current think ing. Studies demonstrating the ineffectuality of punishment as a deterrent to certain types of offenses should not be interpreted to mean that punishment is ineffective in deterring all types of offenses.