The intention of this study was to develop an understanding of the views of the public on, first, what the objective(s) of society's reaction to crime should be and, second, how different types of sanctions are perceived as being able to fulfil these objectives. A thematic analysis was conducted on the basis of transcripts of group interviews. The participants argued that society's reaction should signal condemnation of the crime and at the same time be beneficial in relation to the resocialization of the offender. Sanctions that were perceived to fulfil the signalling of condemnation, i.e. tangible custodial sanctions, were described as being counter-productive in relation to the resocialization of the offender. On the other hand, the signal of caring for the offender was perceived as having a neutralizing effect on the signal of condemnation. For the objective of society's reaction to be fulfilled it thus has to give the illusion of being tangible and harsh but at the same time, in reality, must serve as an effective, lasting deterrent to the offender. It is suggested that the contradictions and tensions surrounding the objectives of society's reaction to crime, and the issue of how these contradictions might be considered when framing crime policy, should be opened up as a matter for discussion in the public debate.