The (Non)Deterrent Potential of Prison Sanction Structure: A Review of Deterrence and Rational Choice in the Prison Context

Abstract

Although correctional practitioners invoke deterrence principles to justify misconduct sanctioning practices, there is little work which examines whether these principles apply within prison settings. The current review examines the theoretical principles of deterrence and rational choice and relevant empirical evidence to question whether the prison environment is conducive to traditional calculations of risk and reward derived from offending. This includes whether the prison environment ensures certainty of apprehension and sanctioning, subjective interpretations of severity, and the incarcerated population's knowledge of sanctioning policies. This review ends with several recommendations to fill knowledge gaps that impede strong deterrence-based policies within prison settings.