Acknowledgements
Introduction
Theory : the mechanisms by which legal punishment might reduce crime
Deterrence and the rational choice model of criminal behavior : the case of the disappearing theory
General methodological problems in punishment research
Individual-level research on general deterrence : the impact of perceptions of legal risk on criminal behavior
Individual-level research on the effects of punishment on the punished : special deterrence
Macro-level research on the effect of punishment levels
The impact of capital punishment on murder rates
The missing link between macro-level and individual-level effects : the impact of macro-level punishment levels on individual perceptions of legal risk
Incapacitative effects of incarceration and the impact of imprisonment rates
Crime-increasing effects of punishment
Conclusions
Index.