What best defines the goal of deterrence in criminal justice?

The goal of deterrence in criminal justice is primarily focused on discouraging individuals from committing future crimes. This is achieved through the imposition of penalties that create a fear of punishment, thereby influencing the decision-making process of potential offenders. By establishing consequences for criminal behavior, deterrence aims to prevent both the individuals who have already offended and others in society from engaging in similar actions.

This approach is based on the idea that when people understand that there are significant repercussions for criminal acts, they are less likely to commit those acts. It emphasizes the preventive aspect of penalties, rather than focusing on rehabilitating offenders or addressing the needs of victims. Deterrence can be understood as functioning on two levels: general deterrence, which aims to prevent the broader public from engaging in criminal behavior through the visible enforcement of laws and penalties, and specific deterrence, which targets individual offenders to prevent them from reoffending through their personal experiences with the criminal justice system.

Thus, option B is the most accurate reflection of the goal of deterrence in the context of criminal justice.