desert principle

From desert (“a just punishment or reward”).

enPR: dĭ-'zûrt prĭnəpəl

the desert principle

1. The concept that offenders should be punished according to how blameworthy they are.
   • 1980, Martin D. Schwartz, Todd R. Clear, Lawrence F. Travis, Corrections, an Issues Approach, page 113:

     In that sense, the model represents a compromise: the basic structure of the penalty system is shaped by the desert principle, but crime-control considerations are given some scope in the choice of the individual offender's sentence.

   • 1984, The Prison Overcrowding Crisis, page 102:

     Bedau contends that the desert principle has no mode of measurement to determine the degree of harm implicated by […]

   • 1985, Robert Melvin Carter, Daniel Glaser, Leslie T. Wilkins, Correctional Institutions, page 333:

     The desert principle is clearly unrelated to the demands of social control, rehabilitation, or reintegration.

• just deserts