The Importance of Deterrence

Deterrence is a theory that criminal penalties do not just punish violators, like Stuart Rhodes, but also discourage other people from committing similar offenses. Many people point to the need to deter criminal actions after high profile incidents in which an offender is seen to have received too light a sentence. And yet you have Donald Trump telling white nationalists to stand back and stand by. You have Donald Trump saluting convicts that beat the hell out of cops with American flags. I can't even believe this. This wasn't JFK's America.