Why is detention a punishment?
Asked by: Augusta Fadel | Last update: January 27, 2026Score: 5/5 (52 votes)
Detention is a punishment because it removes a student's free time and freedom, confining them to a specific place (like a classroom) after school to reflect on misbehavior, do missed work, or face boring tasks as a deterrent against repeating infractions like being late, talking out of turn, or disrespect, teaching accountability by making them sacrifice preferred activities for a consequence. It's designed as a less severe alternative to suspension, aiming to address rule-breaking by taking away valuable personal time, thereby teaching responsibility and the value of adhering to school rules.
What kind of punishment is detention?
A school detention is a punishment where a student has to go to a certain school location and stay for a time period after committing a minor wrong. Detentions are often held after school. If a student does not serve a detention, they may receive another one (one detention turns into two).
Is detention a positive punishment?
By this standard, detention is punishment. Is it an effective way to correct behaviour? Possibly for some kids … but for others it could be quite damaging and even have the reverse effect! Wilson suggests that punishment may stop unwanted behaviour in the short term, but it also creates fear and sneaky behaviour.
Why are detentions bad?
Detention produces concentrated harms--psychological trauma, educational loss, social stigma, increased reoffending risk, health dangers, and perpetuation of inequality.
What are the reasons for detention?
Detention can be due to (pending) criminal charges against the individual pursuant to a prosecution or to protect a person or property. Being detained does not always result in being taken to a particular area (generally called a detention center), either for interrogation or as punishment for a crime (see prison).
Punishment: No recess? Detention?
What happens if my 14-year-old refuses to go to school?
If a 14-year-old refuses school, it often signals underlying issues like anxiety, bullying, or depression, requiring open communication, collaboration with the school (counselors, 504/IEP plans), and professional mental health support (therapist, pediatrician) to find solutions, as prolonged refusal can lead to truancy issues for parents, but the focus should be on addressing the root cause, not just forcing attendance, using strategies like therapy (CBT) and tailored school accommodations.
Why do kids go to detention?
Detention has been used to make students aware that they are not completing or doing their work, displaying correct behavior in various situations, not behaving or completing task, or having the appropriate actions in given situations. Detention is one of the most common punishments in United States.
Is 18 absences bad?
Yes, 18 absences is generally considered bad because it often marks a student as chronically absent, missing 10% or more of the school year, which significantly harms academic performance and can lead to failing classes, repeating grades, or even truancy issues, regardless of good grades. Both excused and unexcused absences count towards this threshold, impacting reading proficiency, social skills, and graduation chances, so it's crucial to address the reasons and check school policies.
What to do instead of detention?
One suggestion is to create a reflection room in place of one for detention. In it, teachers, administrators, caregivers, and the student go through a reflective process to understand the root cause of a conflict and assist the student in understanding and identifying better options.
Is 7 absences in a school year bad?
Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student's academic performance. That's just two days a month and that's known as chronic absence.
Why doesn't detention work?
Detention may stop behavior for a short time, but it doesn't teach students why their actions were wrong or show them how they can better handle themselves next time.
What is Type 1 and Type 2 punishment?
Type 1 punishment: is application of an aversive event after a behavior. Type 2 punishment: is removal of a positive event after a behavior. Technically punishment is a decrease in the rate of a behavior.
How long can you be in detention?
How long you can be detained varies, but generally, police need reasonable suspicion for a brief stop (minutes to hours) and probable cause for arrest, after which you must usually be charged or released/arraigned within 24-48 hours, though serious crimes, terrorism, or legal nuances (like weekend/holiday delays) can extend this significantly, sometimes up to several days before a judge sees you, depending on the jurisdiction.
What are the 4 types of punishment?
The four main types of punishment in criminal justice are retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation, each serving a different goal: making offenders pay for their crime (retribution), discouraging future crime (deterrence), preventing them from committing more offenses (incapacitation, e.g., prison), or changing their behavior to be law-abiding (rehabilitation).
What is illegal detention?
Illegal detention means police hold you without a good reason. In California, the law is strict. Cops must have a solid reason, called “probable cause,” to believe you've done something wrong. If they stop you without this, it's illegal. Simple.
Can cops lie about detaining you?
Yes, but only in certain circumstances. The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that police officers may use dishonest tactics during criminal investigations.
Can I be punished for what I do outside of school?
A student can be punished if what they do outside of school: Creates a “hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student's educational performance, opportunities, or benefits,” They place a student in actual, reasonable fear of being harmed or having their property damaged or destroyed.
What to do if a teacher hurts your child?
9 steps to take if the teacher hurts your child's feelings
- Do some detective work. ...
- Reassure your child that you understand. ...
- Keep a record of what you're hearing. ...
- Discuss your concerns in person. ...
- Explain as much as possible. ...
- Climb the chain of command. ...
- Request a different teacher. ...
- Write a letter of complaint.
What does "truant" actually mean?
1. What does truancy mean? Truancy is the unexcused or unverified absence of a child who is enrolled in school, from school or class, without the proper approval from the school principal or personnel.
Why do teens skip school?
Some of the most common reasons a teenager refuses to go to school are anxiety, depression, social anxiety, bullying, problems with peers, and trauma due to a frightening incident at school.
Can you do homework during detention?
Some teachers feel that detention should be spent productively, working on homework or other assignments, while other instructors prefer the classic ''seated silence'' tactic in which students are not allowed to do anything.
What are the 5 reasons for punishment?
Punishment has five recognized purposes: deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, retribution, and restitution.
Do 12 year olds know right from wrong?
To the legal system, the answer is clear: children have the requisite moral sense--the ability to tell right from wrong--by age 7 to 15, depending on which state they live in, and so can be held responsible for their actions.