word
Incapacitation
in-kah-pas-ih-TAY-shun
/ɪnkəˌpæsɪˈteɪʃən/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
incapacitation
Dictionary meaning
A criminal justice strategy aimed at preventing future crimes by physically removing offenders from society through imprisonment, exile, or other confinement, thereby making it impossible for them to commit further offences against the public
Examples
- Proponents of incapacitation argue that mandatory sentencing protects society even if it does nothing to reform the offender.
- Selective incapacitation targets only high-risk offenders identified as most likely to reoffend.
Synonyms: containment, selective incapacitation, physical restraint
Pronunciation tips
Six syllables; stress the fifth: -TAY-; the -ci- is pronounced sih not see
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