In the context of deterrence, what is its intended effect?

The intended effect of deterrence is to prevent individuals from committing further crimes. The primary aim of deterrence is to discourage not just the individual who might be contemplating a crime, but also others in society by creating a fear of punishment. It operates on the principle that if the costs of criminal behavior (in the form of penalties) outweigh the benefits (such as financial gain from the crime), individuals will be less likely to engage in such behavior.

Deterrence can take two forms: specific deterrence, which targets the individual who has already committed a crime, aiming to dissuade them from re-offending, and general deterrence, which seeks to set a precedent that discourages the wider population from engaging in criminal acts. This social impact relies on the idea that observable punishments will lead potential offenders to reconsider their actions, ultimately contributing to a reduction in crime rates.

The other options present concepts related to crime and punishment but do not align with the primary function of deterrence. For example, rehabilitation focuses on transforming offenders into law-abiding citizens, while options that suggest eliminating punishment misrepresent the deterrent strategy, which fundamentally relies on the existence of penalties to discourage criminal activities. Similarly, concentrating solely on past offenses does not connect directly to