Chicago Police Department (CPD) Practice

The primary intention of General Deterrence is to prevent crime by instilling an awareness of the consequences associated with criminal behavior. This concept operates under the premise that when individuals perceive a significant likelihood of punishment for their actions, they are less likely to engage in criminal activity. General deterrence aims to influence the broader public by highlighting the legal repercussions that offenders face, thereby creating a societal norm that discourages criminal actions. While encouraging self-reporting of crimes, increasing awareness of crime rates, and promoting rehabilitation are all valuable components of an effective criminal justice system, they do not serve the same primary purpose as general deterrence. The focus here is squarely on preventing potential offenders from committing crimes due to fear of the consequences, which is the essence of general deterrence.