In the U.S., significant delays between sentencing and execution violate which key principle of deterrence?

The correct response is B, which refers to the principle of celerity in deterrence theory. Celerity emphasizes the importance of the speed at which a punishment follows a crime. For deterrence to be effective, the punishment should occur swiftly after the offense to create a strong and immediate connection in the mind of would-be offenders between their actions and the consequences.

Delays between sentencing and execution can diminish the potential deterrent effect of the death penalty because the perceived immediacy of the punishment is lost. When individuals believe that the punishment will be delayed or is uncertain, the likelihood of it serving as an effective deterrent decreases, as they may not connect their behavior with the consequences in a meaningful way.

This principle is distinct from the other options. Certainty relates to the likelihood that a punishment will be applied if a crime is committed; severity pertains to how harsh the punishment is compared to the crime; and cruelty focuses on whether a punishment is inhumane or excessive. While these factors are all important in the context of deterrence, celerity specifically captures the issue of timing and immediacy necessary for deterrent effect.