What does incapacitation refer to in the context of sentencing?

Incapacitation in the context of sentencing refers to the idea of removing an individual's ability to commit future crimes by restricting their freedom, primarily through long-term imprisonment. The underlying principle is that by physically incapacitating individuals, society can prevent them from posing a threat to public safety. This approach emphasizes the need to isolate offenders, particularly those considered dangerous, which can help to deter crime by reducing the opportunity for reoffending.

Incapacitation does not involve alternative sentences like suspension or rehabilitation in the community, which aim to reintegrate offenders and reduce the likelihood of crime through less restrictive means. Monetary fines also serve a different purpose, as they focus on penalizing the offender financially rather than physically isolating them. Thus, long-term imprisonment is the most accurate representation of incapacitation in this context, as it directly aims to eliminate any risk posed by an individual to others through confinement.