2 ms·

This is exactly why society as a whole gets to decide instead of the victim or relatives of the victim. It's human that harm done to you or a close person is ha

This is exactly why society as a whole gets to decide instead of the victim or relatives of the victim. It's human that harm done to you or a close person is hard to forgive, but societies goals differ from the goals of the individual: The individuals goal is revenge, the societies goal is to keep the crime rate low. Part of that is betterment of offenders since it keeps the rate of recidivism lower, thus creates less future victims. It's certainly unfortunate that the two goals are not perfectly aligned. However, given human behaviour as it is your question is misleading the discussion: The answer is probably "no" and still, society should choose a different way.

jwoah12 13y ago
Yes, we completely agree. My point isn't that society should look to punish people instead of rehabilitate them. It's that it is human nature to want to punish people, and it takes a special kind of person to see past that and do what is best for society. The average highly-educated, often idealist member of our little community may be able to do it, but I have no faith that a random American would.
gadders 13y ago
But surely their should be some dis-incentive for committing a crime? Supposing their existed a "rehabilitation pill" and taking it instantly prevented someone from committing the same crime again. What if someone then killed your child or partner? Would you be happy for them to take the tablet and be immediately released?
- Xylakant 13y ago
  You're misreading my statement. Part of the solution is betterment, but it's by far not the only part. The second major goal of prison is punishment (nb: not revenge), effectively deterrent. However, the punishment must be adequate to the crime committed and human. Making prison as cruel as possible does not serve that goal. The punishment consists in loosing your freedom, not in getting raped or tortured. Btw: In such a future you're describing we surely have ways of preventing crimes just as effective as the pill that turns a murderer into a good member of society.
  - gadders 13y ago
    Fair enough. Some people here seem to be arguing there is no place for punishment at all. I think there is, but humane punishment. Not dumping people into a human shark tank.

jwoah12 13y ago

Yes, we completely agree. My point isn't that society should look to punish people instead of rehabilitate them. It's that it is human nature to want to punish people, and it takes a special kind of person to see past that and do what is best for society. The average highly-educated, often idealist member of our little community may be able to do it, but I have no faith that a random American would.

gadders 13y ago

But surely their should be some dis-incentive for committing a crime? Supposing their existed a "rehabilitation pill" and taking it instantly prevented someone from committing the same crime again. What if someone then killed your child or partner? Would you be happy for them to take the tablet and be immediately released?

Xylakant 13y ago
You're misreading my statement. Part of the solution is betterment, but it's by far not the only part. The second major goal of prison is punishment (nb: not revenge), effectively deterrent. However, the punishment must be adequate to the crime committed and human. Making prison as cruel as possible does not serve that goal. The punishment consists in loosing your freedom, not in getting raped or tortured. Btw: In such a future you're describing we surely have ways of preventing crimes just as effective as the pill that turns a murderer into a good member of society.
- gadders 13y ago
  Fair enough. Some people here seem to be arguing there is no place for punishment at all. I think there is, but humane punishment. Not dumping people into a human shark tank.