Currently within our criminal justice system, I feel that while there seems to be a mix of deterrence, rehabilitation, retribution and incapacitation. But there are some that are much more prominent than others. In Oregon specifically, the sentencing goal of deterrence reigns supreme. With sentencing guidelines like Measure 11, which is defined as "Measure 11 was a citizens' initiative passed in 1994 in the U.S. State of Oregon. This statutory enactment established mandatory minimum sentencing for several crimes. Prisoners cannot be paroled prior to serving their minimum sentence" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Ballot_Measure_11_(1994). The point of strict sentences like this are to deter individuals from committing egregious crimes. …show more content…
Under the view point of retribution, the punishment should fit the crime. The sentencing goal that I feel should be most relevant to our criminal justice system, is rehabilitation and incapacitation. I believe unfortunately, that there are some extremely violent and psychopathic criminals (such as adult serial rapists, serial killers and terrorists, etc.) that need to be held for lengthy prison terms or within the confines of an institution because their behavior is so engrained and will not change. I do find incapacitation to be vital when dealing with individuals who are unsafe, extremely anti-social and unwilling to get better to become productive members of society. But I also find that rehabilitation is absolutely key, especially when used for juvenile defendants. Juveniles brains are not fully formed, preventing them from understanding the depravity of their decisions and actions. If early intervention and rehabilitation treatment and programs can be utilized for at risk youth and for keeping youth out of the prison system entirely, I see no negative parts of this sentencing