The consequences of legal punishment

Discusses the consequences of legal punishment from various perspectives. In the 1st section, the consequences of punishment are discussed in terms of protecting society from criminal offenses. Empirical findings regarding the prevention of potential crime and the prevention of criminal recidivism are presented. Here, brief attention is also paid to features of effective offender treatment programs. The 2nd section addresses social side effects of punishment and specifically focuses on the phenomenon of labeling and whether imprisonment is associated with a stigmatization of inmates. In the final section, the consequences of legal punishment for families and communities of imprisoned offenders are discussed. In closing, conclusions are drawn with respect to what is really known about the consequences of legal punishment.