Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: Thorsten Sellin stated that Capital Punishment has failed as a measure of social protection, so also as an instrument of retributive justice.
Reason R: However, capital punishment is still recommended because of its reformist value and deterrent effect.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

• A. Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is correct but R is not correct.
• D. A is not correct but R is correct.

Hint:

Reformative theory focuses on rehabilitation, whereas capital punishment permanently removes the offender and therefore cannot be reformative.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:

• Capital punishment (Death Penalty) is the ultimate deterrent in traditional penology.
• Modern criminologists and human rights activists argue against its efficacy and ethics.
• Thorsten Sellin was a prominent sociologist who conducted extensive research on the deterrent effect of the death penalty.

Step 1: Evaluate Assertion A
Thorsten Sellin's research in the 1950s and 60s showed that there was no significant difference in homicide rates between states with and without the death penalty. He famously argued that it failed both as a deterrent (social protection) and as a balanced form of justice. Assertion A is correct.

Step 2: Evaluate Reason R
Reason R states that capital punishment has "reformist value." This is logically impossible, as the Reformative Theory of punishment aims to change the criminal's mind and integrate them back into society. Since execution kills the offender, it has zero reformative value. Additionally, many studies (like Sellin's) dispute its "deterrent effect." Reason R is incorrect.

Step 3: Conclusion
Since A is a true statement about a scholar's findings and R is a factually and logically incorrect claim about the nature of the death penalty, the correct choice is option (C).