Deterrence (legal)

Deterrence is a way to stop someone from doing something bad or wrong. It means that if someone thinks they might get into trouble for doing something wrong, they might not do it, because they don't want to get in trouble. So, sometimes, laws are made to deter people from doing bad things. For example, there is a law that says you can't steal things. If you get caught stealing, you might get in trouble, like having to pay money or even going to jail. This is meant to deter you from stealing in the first place. If you know you might get caught and punished, you might not want to take that risk, and so you won't steal. That's why it's important to follow laws, so that you don't get in trouble and so that other people are deterred from doing bad things too.