What are the specific aims and purposes of criminal law? To what extent does criminal law control behavior?

The aim and objective of the criminal law is to punish those who are responsible for crime, also to prevent the crimes in society. The though of severe punishment and arrest makes people think twice before committing crimes.

The criminal laws have been used to correct the delinquent behavior in professional criminals and to prevent crimes using deterrence. Although the laws are strict but the crime rate is high all over the world. Thus this can be said that the criminal laws are not sufficient to restrict crimes. Crime is a social act which is the product of mental disturbance caused due to unhealthy personal relationships, unemployment or financial crisis and other reasons. These reasons are responsible for commission of crime without keeping in mind the consequences of criminal act.