Purposes of punishment

1. The purpose of punishment means that the sentence should be designed to deter people from committing offences for fear of the consequences. These days, more and more sentences are designed to ensure that the offender is made aware of the harm he has done. Steps are also taken in appropriate cases to ensure that the offender understands the full effect of the harm he has caused, and apologizes to the victim for it.

2. The purpose means that the sentence should, wherever possible, take into account the personal circumstances of the defendant and look to his future. A large number of offenders need treatment rather than punishment. Many offenders who are mentally ill, or who are addicted to alcohol or dangerous drugs, are not sent to prison, but are ordered to receive treatment in hospitals or drug rehabilitation centers. Punishment may be designed to reform and rehabilitate the wrongdoer so that they will not commit the offenсe again. This kind of punishment should not be confused with deterrence, the goal here is to change the offender’s attitude to what they have done, and make them come to accept that their behaviour was wrong.

3. The purpose means that the punishment should in some way pay the offender back for the harm he has done. Firstly, this will give satisfaction to the victim. Some would dearly like to get their own back in an act of vengeance. They must not do this. A victim of crime must never “take the law into his own hands”. If that were acceptable there would be even more violence and public disorder. Secondly, it is the way in which the public as a whole can show their feelings of disapproval for the crime and the offender who committed it.

Замените русские слова и выражения, данные в скобках, соответствующими формами английских глаголов.

One of the two accused men (осуждать) at yesterday’s trial. Although his lawyer (защищать) him very well, he still (признать виновным) by the jury. The judge (приговорить к наказанию) him to two years in prison. He’ll probably (освобождать) after eighteen months. The other accused man was luckier. He (оправдать) and left the courtroom smiling broadly.

ДИСКУССИЯ - “Capital punishment: For and Against”. Прочитайте текст и аргументы “за” и “против” применения смертной казни. Выразите свое мнение по данному вопросу, используя следующие формулы речевого общения.

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