4 ms·
Evidence degrades, memories fade, witnesses die. Generally the worse the crime, the longer the statute of limitations. Murder in most places has no limit. Also
by badlibrarian 5mo ago
Evidence degrades, memories fade, witnesses die. Generally the worse the crime, the longer the statute of limitations. Murder in most places has no limit.
Also, if someone hasn't committed a crime in, say, 20 years, there's questionable need to lock them up for three years to deter the behavior. Goal is to optimize the overall system even if some people slip through the cracks.
- charcircuit 5mo ago>Evidence degrades Maybe in the past, but with modern technology that isn't always true. Statue of limitations comes from a time before even cameras existed.
- bigbuppo 5mo agoThe purpose of the law isn't revenge. Also, I see many other people in this thread confusing criminal law and civil law, which is a bit sad to see on a place like HN.
- wagwang 5mo agoIt absolutely is, if you arent going to punish someone who hurt my child then I will do it myself.
- badlibrarian 5mo agoThe state isn't in the business of revenge. It prosecutes crimes on your behalf because private vengeance escalates and frequently lands on the wrong person.
- wagwang 5mo agoThe state literally exists to manage violence, especially revenge. It basically provides "fair revenge" which is justice.
- badlibrarian 5mo agoThere is no such thing as fair revenge. It can run for generations. Retribution is impersonal, proportional, principled, and employs safeguards like time limitations. You could say "the state channels the impulse toward revenge into a procedure that mostly isn't revenge" but Hobbes figured that out in 1651.