PTB.S3.Q12-- rationales for punishing crime

Darklord

Hi,
Would anyone be able to explain why the answer here is B instead of E? I couldn't find any direct evidence showing how E is wrong

help

Thanks!

ArturoRol

I think E might be incorrect because it says the second rationale inherently “allows” more lenient punishments. My understanding is that both the social benefit model and the retributive model probably have the same pool of penalties to pull from; in other words, when a person commits a crime, probation all the way to life in prison could be available in a sentencing spectrum to both schools of thought. It’s just that the sentence actually chosen will differ depending on whether the decision maker takes a retributive approach (resulting in a lighter sentence) or a social benefit approach (resulting in a heavier sentence). I think B addresses this because it discusses the inclination that the retributive approach has towards lighter sentences rather than what E is getting at—the idea that the retributive “allows” more lenient punishment, which goes against there being the same sentencing options available to both approaches.

ArturoRol

Perhaps if E had said “It is inherently inclined to favor more lenient punishment than the first rationale” then I think it would be correct.

ArturoRol

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Darklord

Ok thanks!