ABSTRACT
The sociological study of punishment examines the relationship between crime, punishment and society. It looks at punishment as a social phenomenon and, in particular, the role of punishment in social life. While punishment occurs in a variety of different contexts – in the home, at school and at work, for instance – the focus here is on the legal punishment of offenders. This legal punishment is a complex process that involves the making of laws, the trial, conviction and sentencing of offenders, and the administration of particular penalties. Given this complexity, it is not surprising that legal punishment can have various aims. However, it is likely that a majority of people would see the reduction or containment of crime as the major purpose of punishment, with punishment seen as a means to an end – that of controlling crime. Although crimes still occur, and in ever-increasing numbers, it would perhaps be unfair to say that punishment has therefore ‘failed’; rather, it is arguably an unrealistic aim and expectation of punishment that it control rates of crime.
