Legal Deterrence Quotes

Penalties serve to deter those who are not inclined to commit any crimes.

One goal of law - as we learn in law school from the first day of contracts - is to deter bad behavior.

If public officers will infringe men's rights, they ought to pay greater damages than other men, to deter and hinder other officers from the like offences.

I think it's common sense to say that the longer away from a crime it gets prosecuted, the less deterrent effect there is.

There is no deterrent effect whatsoever by the presence of the death penalty.

It doesn't help to wait until something happens and then prosecute the offenders, especially if it's the idea of the offender to extinguish himself in the commission of the crime.

We must send a very clear message that if you enter our country illegally and then you commit one of these offenses, you will be dealt with harshly and you will pay a heavy price for your conduct.

it is the certainty of being punished and not the horrifying spectacle of public punishment that must discourage crime

I have a suggestion that I think would help fight serious crime. Signs. There are lots of signs for minor infractions: No Smoking, Stay Off the Grass, Keep Out, and they seem to work fairly well. I think we should also have signs for major crimes: Murder Strictly Prohibited, NO Raping People, Thank You for Not Kidnapping Anyone. It's certainly worth a try. I'm convinced Watergate would never have happened if there had just been a sign in the Oval Office that said, Malfeasance of Office Is Strictly Against the Law, or Thank You for Not Undermining the Constitution.