The preventive theory of punishment aims at staving off prospective crimes by incapacitating the criminal. This idea of punishment is analogous to that of the deterrent theory. Utilitarians such as Bentham, Mill and Austin of England substantiated the preventive theory of punishment due to its humane virtue. The founder of the preventive theory stated that punishment’s purpose is to dissuade offences, which can be done when the offender is checked by disablement. The disablement of the criminal may be limited or unlimited.
Preventive philosophy asserts that the preventive theory of punishment serves as a beneficial impediment and a useful preventive measure. The effectiveness of the preventive theory banks on the factor of timeliness; if there is a holdup in the inquiry or investigation, the punishment or sanction would be rendered futile.
The preventive mode of punishment can be classified in the following manner:
- By instilling the fear of punishment;
- By disabling the criminal, permanently or temporarily, from committing any other crime;
- By way of reformation and/or re-education.
This suggests that punishment’s preventive theory is quite nearly interlinked to the deterrent theory and the restoration theory of punishment. We can relate particular deterrence to the preventive theory. Specific deterrence is for the certain individuals who have committed the crime, and it stops criminals from perpetrating any future crimes; the preventive theory also aims at deterring future crimes by disabling the criminal, either permanently or temporarily. Moreover, the preventive theory strives at transforming the criminal by reformation and re-education, which is the basis of the fear of punishment.
Case Laws:
- Dr Jacob George v. State of Kerala, 1994 Cr.L.J. 3851 SC
- Surjit Singh v. State of Punjab, L.J. 2768(S.C)
- Mukesh & of v. State for NCT of Delhi & Ors., C. A. NOS. 609-610 OF 2017
