Evaluate the argument that sentencing for certain types of crime is increasingly being influenced by the principles of 'retribution' and 'deterrence'.

A criminal justice system exists so that those who commit a crime are punished. Each type of crime carries a certain punishment or, 'sentence' that is supposed to fit the crime accordingly. Sentencing criminals to particular punishments is intended to deter them from committing more crimes and to serve as an example to others to put them off committing crimes of a similar nature. Other reasons for sentencing criminals is to gain a sense of …

…prisons means that judges might be put off from giving large sentences to those who deserve them. Solutions such as electronic tagging are helping to alleviate the problem because many non-dangerous criminals can be monitored without having to take up valuable prison space and taxpayers money. References Elliot, C. Quinn, F. (2000) English Legal System, 3rd ed. Longman. Pgs. 292-321. http://lawwiki.bbcity.co.uk/wakka.php?wakka=Sentencing http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/news-prSentencersStudy.html