Cesare_Beccaria_1738-1794.jpg 
In saying this, Beccaria refers to the severity or amount of punishment. It is not how much punishment that 
is the primary motivator of deterrence, rather, the certainty. If deterrence is to work, the ideology of the 
punishment is what should drive this goal of corrections. 
Today, we have a better understanding of the effectiveness of deterrence. It does appear to work for lower 
level offenses, and for individuals that are generally prosocial. However, the overall effect of deterrence is 
limited. For more detail on things to know about deterrence, please see: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/
247350.pdf 
Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System
317