Types of Crimes and Their Punishments | Learn Criminal Justice (2024)

Throughout history, society has developed different ways to simultaneously punish criminal offenders while also ensuring the safety of the public. Those who study types of crimes and their punishments learn that five major types of criminal punishment have emerged: incapacitation, deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation and restoration. 

Students in an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice learn these types of criminal punishment as part of a curriculum that prepares them for success working in the criminal justice field.  

The Types of Criminal Punishment 

The types of punishment listed by the University of Oxford handbook include the first four of the following. The idea of restorative justice is newer. Today’s experts in criminology see it as a valid criminal punishment option. Those who judge the types of crimes and their punishments typically use one of the following approaches to guide them.

Retribution

This is one of the first forms of punishmentessentially the idea of “an eye for an eye.Those who favor retribution believe it gives the victims of crime, or society as a whole, a sense of satisfaction knowing a criminal received the appropriate level of punishment for the crime committed. Lawmakers face the task of determining these appropriate levels of punishment, which can range from speeding ticket fine amounts to mandatory sentences for certain crimes.

Deterrence

Deterrence aims to prevent future crime and can focus on specific and general deterrence. Specific deterrence deals with making an individual less likely to commit a future crime because of fear of getting a similar or worse punishment. General deterrence refers to the impact on members of the public who become less likely to commit a crime after learning of the punishment another person experienced.

Rehabilitation 

Rehabilitation seeks to prevent future crime by altering a criminal’s behavior. This typically includes offering a host of programs while in prison, including educational and vocational programs, treatment center placement, and mental health counseling. This approach also typically gives judges the flexibility to mix in rehabilitation programs as part of a criminal’s sentencing. The goal is to lower the rate of recidivism, or people committing another crime after getting released from prison.

Incapacitation

This is another ancient approach that remains popular. Incapacitation simply means removing a person from society. This includes incarceration in prison, house arrest and, in its more dire form, execution. Many feel the flaw in this approach is that it doesn’t address rehabilitation or recidivism, the latter of which tends to remain high in societies that practice incapacitation.

Restoration 

This new approach to criminal justice calls for the offender to make direct amends to the victim of their crime, as well as the community where the crime occurred. Judges use this approach mostly with juvenile offenders. In this approach, the criminal and the victim meet so that the offender can hear what the victim says about their experience with the crime committed. The offender then strives to make amends and seek forgiveness.

These theories are intricately involved in studies on the types of crimes and their punishments. Society developed each of them with the idea of ensuring appropriate punishment for criminals and safety for society. 

Types of Crimes and Their Punishments | Learn Criminal Justice (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 types of punishment? ›

There are five main underlying justifications of criminal punishment considered briefly here: retribution; incapacitation; deterrence; rehabilitation and reparation.

What are the six types of punishment in criminal justice? ›

There are several common types of criminal punishment: deterrence, reduction, rehabilitation, incapacitation, retribution and restoration.

What are the 4 types of crime? ›

Crimes can be generally separated into four categories: felonies, misdemeanors, inchoate offenses, and strict liability offenses. Each state, and the federal government, decides what sort of conduct to criminalize.

What are the 4 main types of sentencing? ›

Types of sentences include probation, fines, short-term incarceration, suspended sentences, which only take effect if the convict fails to meet certain conditions, payment of restitution to the victim, community service, or drug and alcohol rehabilitation for minor crimes.

What are the most common punishments for crimes? ›

Fines, incarceration and, in some cases, certain acts of restitution are the most common forms of punishment meted out to criminal offenders by society through the criminal law system in this country.

What are the most common punishments? ›

Here's a rundown of the most common punishments.
  • Incarceration. Incarceration means time in a local jail or a state or federal prison. ...
  • Fines. ...
  • Diversion. ...
  • Probation. ...
  • Restitution. ...
  • Community service. ...
  • Defendant 1. ...
  • Defendant 2.
Jun 24, 2022

What are the three punishments for crimes? ›

The three main theories of punishment are utilitarian, retributive, and restorative. All three theories can be found in the criminal justice system.

What are punishments in criminal law? ›

punishment, the infliction of some kind of pain or loss upon a person for a misdeed (i.e., the transgression of a law or command). Punishment may take forms ranging from capital punishment, flogging, forced labour, and mutilation of the body to imprisonment and fines.

How many types of punishments are there? ›

As per section 53 of the Indian Penal Code, there are five types of punishments that a court may provide to a person convicted of a crime. These are death, imprisonment for life, simple and rigorous imprisonment, forfeiture of property and fine.

What are the 7 types of crimes and? ›

Types of crime
  • Antisocial behaviour. Antisocial behaviour is when you feel intimidated or distressed by a person's behaviour towards you.
  • Arson. ...
  • Burglary. ...
  • Childhood abuse. ...
  • Crime abroad. ...
  • Cybercrime and online fraud. ...
  • Domestic abuse. ...
  • Fraud.
Mar 17, 2022

What are the 7 violent crimes? ›

In the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses that involve force or threat of force.

What are the 5 common crimes? ›

Criminologists commonly group crimes into several major categories: (1) violent crime; (2) property crime; (3) white-collar crime; (4) organized crime; and (5) consensual or victimless crime.

What are the 4 goals of punishment in criminal justice? ›

Four major goals are usually attributed to the sentencing process: retribution, rehabilitation, deterrence, and incapacitation. Retribution refers to just deserts: people who break the law deserve to be punished.

What are the 3 classes of criminals? ›

Drdhms concluded that all types of criminals could be classified under three main heads: instinctive criminals, habitual crim- inals, and single offenders.

What are the 5 aims of punishment? ›

There are five general aims or functions or justifications of punishment:
  • DETERRENCE. There is a belief that punishment for crime can deter people from offending. ...
  • REHABILITATION. ...
  • PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC. ...
  • RETRIBUTION. ...
  • SYMBOLIC DENUNCIATION.

What are the 5 punishment in the criminal justice system? ›

Those who study types of crimes and their punishments learn that five major types of criminal punishment have emerged: incapacitation, deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation and restoration.

What crime has the harshest punishment? ›

Murder. Murder through premeditation, an accident during the commission of a crime, or as part of an assault carries the harshest penalties under the law. You can be sentenced to 50 or more years in jail. Some people receive life imprisonment.

What is the highest form of punishment? ›

Capital punishment refers to the process of sentencing convicted offenders to death for the most serious crimes (capital crimes) and carrying out that sentence.

What are extreme punishments? ›

Cruel and unusual punishment includes torture, deliberately degrading punishment, or punishment that is too severe for the crime committed. This concept helps guarantee due process even to convicted criminals.

What is the highest punishment in the US? ›

In the United States, capital punishment is a legal penalty throughout the country at the federal level, in 27 states, and in American Samoa. It is also a legal penalty for some military offenses.

What are some examples of punishment? ›

Examples
  • Scolding. Being reprimanded or lectured is something many children would like to avoid.
  • Hand slapping or grabbing. This may instinctively happen in the moment. ...
  • Writing. This method is often used in school. ...
  • Chores. Many parents add chores as a form of punishment. ...
  • Rules. Few people crave more rules.
Feb 25, 2020

What are the 8 crimes? ›

The FBI collects the number of offenses for the crimes of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson through the UCR Program.

What are the two main types of punishment? ›

There are two types of punishment, positive and negative. Positive punishment involves the introduction of a stimulus to decrease behavior while negative punishment involves the removal of a stimulus to decrease behavior.

How many versions of crime and punishment are there? ›

I count fourteen translations of Crime and Punishment, eight of which are in-print (shown in bold below). Nov 2021: By request, the list below is updated to include information on out-of-print translations! July 2022: Updated to add the new translation by Roger co*ckrell!

What are the 6 purposes of punishment? ›

A lesson to explore the six aims of punishment: protection, retribution, vindication, deterrence, reformation and reparation. It includes discussions on what crimes should receive what punishment, learning walks and written exercises which increase in difficulty.

What are the 12 crimes against humanity? ›

Crimes against humanity under international law
  • Murder.
  • Extermination.
  • Enslavement. Deportation or forcible transfer of population.
  • Imprisonment.
  • Torture.
  • Sexual violence.
  • Persecution against an identifiable group.
  • Enforced disappearance of persons.

What are the 12 causes of crime? ›

…the root causes of crime [are] poverty, unemploy- ment, underemployment, racism, poor health care, bad hous- ing, weak schools, mental illness, alcoholism, single-parent families, teenage pregnancy, and a society of selfishness and greed.

What are the 9 special categories of crime? ›

The selected offenses are 1) Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter, 2) Forcible Rape, 3) Robbery, 4) Aggravated Assault, 5) Burglary, 6) Larceny-Theft, 7) Motor Vehicle Theft, and 8) Arson. These are serious crimes by nature and/or volume.

What are the 11 crimes against humanity? ›

War of aggression, war crimes, murder, massacres, dehumanization, genocide, ethnic cleansing, deportations, unethical human experimentation, extrajudicial punishments including summary executions, the use of weapons of mass destruction, state terrorism or state sponsorship of terrorism, death squads, kidnappings and ...

What are common crimes? ›

The top ten most common crimes committed in the United States are theft, burglary, auto theft, aggravated assault, robbery, basic assault, indecent exposure, trespassing, petty theft, public intoxication.

What are 10 common crimes? ›

10 Common Serious Crimes Committed in the US
  • DWI/DUI. A crime often found at the top spot in a common crimes list is driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated.
  • Larceny. ...
  • Drug Possession. ...
  • Vandalism. ...
  • Fraud. ...
  • Property Crimes. ...
  • Assault. ...
  • Disorderly Conduct.

What are the smallest crimes? ›

Infractions. Infractions, which can also be called violations, are the least serious crimes and include minor offenses such as jaywalking and motor vehicle offenses that result in a simple traffic ticket. Infractions are generally punishable by a fine or alternative sentencing such as traffic school.

What are 3 examples of minor crimes? ›

Examples of misdemeanors include:
  • Minor drug offenses, such as possession.
  • Drunk driving.
  • Petty theft, including shoplifting.
  • Minor or simple assault or battery.
  • Trespassing.
  • Vandalism.
  • Minor sex crimes, including solicitation, prostitution and indecent exposure.
  • Resisting arrest.

What are the 3 key elements of punishment? ›

Further, it has been proposed that the punishment must be swift in order to deter the crime. Classical deterrence theory consists of these three key components, the so-called “3 Cs” (Severity, Certainty and Celerity) of punishment.

What are the 4 dangers or the use of punishment? ›

Corporal punishment is linked to a range of negative outcomes for children across countries and cultures, including physical and mental ill-health, impaired cognitive and socio-emotional development, poor educational outcomes, increased aggression and perpetration of violence.

What is a legal punishment? ›

A penalty is the punishment imposed upon a person who has violated the law, whether or a contract, a rule, or regulation. A penalty can be in response to either civil or criminal violations, though civil penalties are usually less severe.

What is the highest felony? ›

Federal felonies are divided into five categories: A, B, C, D and E. A crime that's a Class A federal felony is the worst, with a maximum prison term of life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.

What crime gives the least jail time? ›

The following offenses have a minimum sentence of one year;
  • Speeding to elude police.
  • Not stopping a boat when ordered by law enforcement to stop.
  • Illegally selling a handful to someone under 21 years of age.
  • Possession of an assault weapon.
  • Second-degree assault with a firearm.
  • Third-degree burglary with a firearm.
Mar 22, 2022

What is an example of felony? ›

A felony is a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for longer than one year. Common felonies include: Murder. Robbery.

What are the four elements of punishment? ›

The punishment of wrongdoings is typically categorized in the following four justifications: retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation and incapacitation (societal protection).

What are the types of punishment that can be used in society? ›

There are several main types of criminal punishment: deterrence, reduction, rehabilitation, incapacitation, retribution and restoration.

What are the 5 purposes of punishment briefly describe each? ›

Learning Objective

Punishment has five recognized purposes: deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, retribution, and restitution.

What are the 7 methods of capital punishment? ›

Overview. The primary means of execution in the U.S. have been hanging, electrocution, the gas chamber, firing squad, and lethal injection. The Supreme Court has never found a method of execution to be unconstitutional, though some methods have been declared unconstitutional by state courts.

Who was the youngest death penalty? ›

Stinney was executed on June 16, 1944, at 7:30 a.m. He was prepared for execution by electric chair, using a Bible as a booster seat because Stinney was too small for the chair. He was then restrained by his arms, legs, and body to the chair.

What crimes are punishable by death? ›

The death penalty can only be imposed on defendants convicted of capital offenses – such as murder, treason, genocide, or the killing or kidnapping of a Congressman, the President, or a Supreme Court justice. Unlike other punishments, a jury must decide whether to impose the death penalty.

How many types of punishment are there? ›

Ans. The five punishments given to criminals in India are death penalty, life imprisonment, imprisonment, forfeiture of property, and solitary confinement. Ans. Imprisonment comes under sections 194 and 449 of the INDIAN PENAL CODE.

What is punishment in criminology? ›

Chapter 1 defines “punishment” (unpleasant consequences, imposed intentionally and officially, on an actual or supposed offender), and argues that different justifications (e.g., retributive, utilitarian) may apply to the institution of punishment (why punish anyone?), the selection of persons to be punished, and the ...

What is punishment and its types? ›

punishment, the infliction of some kind of pain or loss upon a person for a misdeed (i.e., the transgression of a law or command). Punishment may take forms ranging from capital punishment, flogging, forced labour, and mutilation of the body to imprisonment and fines.

What are the 2 forms of punishment? ›

There are two types of punishment, positive and negative. Positive punishment involves the introduction of a stimulus to decrease behavior while negative punishment involves the removal of a stimulus to decrease behavior.

Why do we punish criminals? ›

The utilization of punishment is justified in terms of deterrence, retribution, or incapacitation. The deterrence position maintains that if the offender is punished, not only the offender by also those who see his example are deterred from further offenses.

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