To what extent do civil and criminal sanctions ensure compliance and conformity with the law?

Question

"Sanctions are penalties imposed on those who break the law to ensure compliance and conformity with the law." To what extent is the above statement a true reflection of the role of civil and criminal sanctions?

We are talking about national law

Answer 1

How's the Open University W100 Rules Rights and Justice: An Introduction to Law course going? You better hurry up, the eTMA has to be in my midnight tonight (GMT)!!
:)))))))

Answer 2

Nothing ensures compliance with the law. Punishment is designed to make people think twice before breaking the law. One author said, "It is not the severity of punishment that deters one from breaking the law, it is the certainty of it." I don't think that generally, people are basically evil. I think they are basically gamblers. If they think they can get away with something... they are inclined to try. I think almost everybody does it. They drive a little fast. They coast a little through stop signs. They pad resumes. They cheat on their spouses. They break the law. And they do it because they believe that they can get away with it. And, apparently many do. But if you knew that the instant your car went over the posted speed limit, you would get a $500 fine. No court date. No traffic school. You get a bill in the mail for $500. I'll bet that most people wouldn't go within 5 miles of the posted speed limit. But what if you don't pay the fine... see what I mean? Well, let's say you have ten days from the date on the citation to pay the fine. On the eleventh day, if you haven't paid it, you wake up and find that you now owe $5000 and that you no longer have a car. Too strict? Not if one doesn't intend to break the law. All one has to do is obey the law in the first place, and pay his or her fines in the second. In this case there is no gamble. It's a sure thing. If you break the law, you lose. It's a sad sate of affairs when we must resort to such stuff. But people are what they are. And a lot of them are breaking the law.

Answer 3

Civil Law the theory is hit their pockets and they will behave bye and large a civil action is only taken our against a person once or twice in their lives. For most of us never 'cos it gets settled before the hearing (about 90%) Criminal Law it is little use fining 'cos they aint go no cash and can lead to further crime. restriction orders only work on threat of prison if not complied with and only then if the Courts act on the warning Prison is a bit of a joke when a five year sentence is wawarded an d they are let out in a few months. So in civil they will work with the responsible law abiding who have been silly. but Criminal will not unless sentances are carried out. Another point is that many people in prison should not be thee any way due to mental and/or educational problems and I have no idea what can be done there

Answer 4

This is the sort of question that requires an essay to answer fully because it relies on opinion drawn from a knowledge of the subject area. Im a Law Student and not up for that because I write essays all the time. So in the spirit of helpfulness, reference the following text books

"An introduction to Law 7th edition" Phil Harris, Cambridge University Press 2007

"The English Legal System 8th Edition" Gary Slapper & David Kelly, Routledge Cavendish 2006

Both of these titles have excellent chapters on this type of question and will help you to form your own view in the area.

Answer 5

It is true only in as much as the people who these sanctions are imposed upon take any notice.
Some people/organisations feel that if the benefits of their actions outweigh the the effectiveness or inconvenience that the sanctions cause them then they are pretty useless.

Answer 6

It is correct. Sanctions act as a deterrant to similar conduct in the future.

Answer 7

Are we talking about international law or local law?