In the article, “Why Punishment?” By Jackson Toby, explains from a psychological and criminology view about why punishment should take place in society. Dr. Toby is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences of Rutgers University. This article is found the “Journal of Criminal law, Criminology, and Police Science.” In this presentation, I’ll be going over why punishment is needed for crime prevention, sustaining the moral of the law-abiders, and to reform the law-breaker.

Punishment for Crime Prevention:

Punishment can inflict fear and can help prevent law-abiders from committing crimes, but no definitive punishment, would most likely end up in higher crime rates. As Dr. Toby’s research in his writing, “During World War II, the Nazis deported all of Denmark's police force, thus providing a natural experiment testing the deterrent efficacy of formal sanctions. Crime increased greatly” (Jackson Toby). The research exposes that without a definitive discipline, law-abiders would probably break the law as well.

Furthermore, in, “The Scarlet Letter,” Hester’s punishment is to stand on front of everyone for 3 hours, and to wear the scarlet letter for the rest of her life. Showing what would happen if people broke the law like Hester.

Punishment for holding the morale of the law-abiders:

The punishment of criminals also provides the moral for the conformist to stay upright. Not punishing the criminals properly would result in the upright being desmoralized, which also might give them the idea that they can break the law as well. Dr. Toby writes that without punishment you can, “anticipate the demoralization of ‘upright people’” (Jackson Toby). The punishment allows the upright to continue to have an advantage over those who break the law.

For example, in beginning of, “The Scarlet Letter,” the women were complaining that Hester didn’t receive a strong enough punishment. Which in turn, hurt their pride, showing that improper punishment would psychologically hurt those who legitimately follow the law.

Punishment to Reform the Offender:

Not only does punishment help keep law-abiders to stay upright, but it can also change the mind of the offender themself. Dr. Toby states, “Punishment may be a necessary preliminary to a rehabilitative program” (Jackson Toby). The wrongdoers would realize that they are on the wrong side of morality, and likely try to change their sinful ways.

For instance, in, “The Scarlet Letter,” Hester learns from her punishment and decides to help the poor and needy. Which, in the end, benefited the society.

And these are my works cited, thank you.