Explanation
Community sanctions include probation, community service, fines, restorative justice programmes, or electronic monitoring. They are designed to hold offenders accountable while avoiding the negative effects of imprisonment. Advocates argue they promote reintegration and reduce overcrowding, but critics caution about “net-widening,” where such measures extend control to groups who might not otherwise have been sanctioned.
Theoretical Reference
Rehabilitation theory, restorative justice, actuarial justice.