The Empirical Status of Deterrence Theory: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The literature on deterrence theory has undergone a number of changes in recent years. With the rise of new ways of thinking about rational decision-making and offending, four developments have changed the way criminologists view the deterrence perspective: the effectiveness of certain situational crime prevention strategies; the recognition of the importance of the "non-legal costs" of criminal behavior; the integration of deterrence theory with other criminological perspectives, such as social learning and self-control theories; and how the imposition of sanctions can actually lower individuals&s; perceived estimates of getting caught in the future, known as the "resetting effect". The body of "shaming" research points to the growing recognition of the complex effects that criminal sanctions have on individuals&s; future criminal behaviour. Even independent of shame, however, research has emerged indicating that individuals who have been punished end up being more inclined to commit future offenses than those who have not been punished.