California Correctional Lieutenant Practice Exam

Which term refers to rendering someone incapable of committing a crime?

1. Deterrence

2. Incapacitation

3. Retribution

4. Rehabilitation

The correct answer is: Incapacitation

The term that refers to rendering someone incapable of committing a crime is "incapacitation." This concept focuses on limiting an individual's ability to engage in criminal behavior by removing them from society or taking away their capability to commit such acts. This can be achieved through various means, such as imprisonment or other forms of confinement. Incapacitation is based on the understanding that by physically restricting an individual's freedom, the potential for them to harm others or engage in illegal activities is significantly reduced. This approach is often utilized in the criminal justice system when dealing with repeat offenders or individuals deemed a threat to public safety. Other concepts in the context of criminal justice serve different functions: deterrence aims to discourage criminal behavior by instilling fear of punishment; retribution focuses on punishment as a form of societal vengeance for the crime; and rehabilitation seeks to reform the offender so that they can reintegrate into society successfully. Each of these concepts plays a distinct role in the broader scope of addressing crime and its consequences, but incapacitation specifically addresses the physical limitation of an offender's criminal activities.