3 ms·
Society is caught up in a long-running debate over whether the purpose of justice is rehabilitation or retribution. The contradictions you see are the result. N
by chongli 7y ago
Society is caught up in a long-running debate over whether the purpose of justice is rehabilitation or retribution. The contradictions you see are the result. Neither side is particularly happy with the outcome, mind you, but I see no obvious way to break the impasse.
Additionally, there is an element of risk-aversion among employers. Why take a risk on hiring an ex-con when you can hire someone without a record for the same effort/cost?
- nradov 7y agoThe primary purpose of incarceration is not rehabilitation or retribution, but rather crime prevention. Convicts aren't out committing more crimes (at least not among the general public).
- chongli 7y agoThat's incarceration. My comment is about justice in general. Incarceration is only one of many avenues of justice. Others include capital punishment, corporal punishment, fines, asset forfeiture, exile, expulsion from school, or registration on a public list (such as the sex-offender registry). The effects of all of these vary widely, and many of them have very long-running debates on their merits (or lack thereof). I think it's premature to claim that any one of these concepts has a primary purpose, let alone a universally agreed-upon one.
- kstenerud 7y agoAmerica is caught up in a long-running debate, but most civilized countries have gotten past this, or at the very least does far better.