ABSTRACT
Primitive man’s concept of punishment—Evolution of civilized forms of punishment—In early civilization confession looked upon as necessary evidence of guilt—The use of torture in exacting confession—Difficulty of dissociating torture from punishment—Objects of punishment—When punishment fails to act as a deterrent—Factors which influence the results of forms of punishment—Need to base the nature and degree of punishment upon the cause of the crime and the psychology of the criminal—Negative effects of exceptionally severe or brutal punishment—The case of Ira Marlatt.
