In crime prevention, what term describes something that discourages criminals from committing offenses?

In crime prevention, what term describes something that discourages criminals from committing offenses?

• A. Deterrent
• B. Punishment
• C. Prevention
• D. Threat

Answer: (A)

Deterrence is the idea that crime can be discouraged when the costs or risks of offending are made to feel high to potential offenders. A deterrent is anything that creates that discouragement—the expectation that getting caught and facing punishment will be likely, swift, and severe enough to outweigh the benefits of the crime. This tends to make someone think twice before committing an offense. This differs from punishment, which is the sanction applied after a crime has occurred; and from prevention, which is the broad set of activities aimed at stopping crime in advance. A threat can contribute to deterrence, but the term that names the factor that actively reduces the impulse to offend is deterrent.

Deterrence is the idea that crime can be discouraged when the costs or risks of offending are made to feel high to potential offenders. A deterrent is anything that creates that discouragement—the expectation that getting caught and facing punishment will be likely, swift, and severe enough to outweigh the benefits of the crime. This tends to make someone think twice before committing an offense.

This differs from punishment, which is the sanction applied after a crime has occurred; and from prevention, which is the broad set of activities aimed at stopping crime in advance. A threat can contribute to deterrence, but the term that names the factor that actively reduces the impulse to offend is deterrent.