Judicial Sentencing

[blasted]

Its quite common for people to critisicse the sentencing system in this country, crimes involving violence often result in a lesser sentence than those of a financial nature. When a serious crime occurs the public often demand harsh sentencing and are appauled when child killers walk free after short periods behind bars.

Reading this article it shows the other end of the spectrum. I cant even begin to comprehend the damage thats caused by locking up a child for life, and over there they mean life.

Granted if a person commits a crime then they should be punished, but is the death sentence or complete removal of freedom for life really the answer? Should we as a progressive nation be looking to develop better forms of punishment that don't upset the victims, don't cause a strain on the economy and give the individual a sense of hope for a better future?

 

[kBm]

I read this article Life in young offenders Institution - very interesting, Some deserve to be locked up based on thier crimes. So do want to change. It's not all black/ white.

 

[blasted]

Interesting read,

The article is saying that the damage had been done way before the person got to the point where they were prisoned. I can agree in some respects that we as a society are failing our own people, but I also accept that there are just some very bad people out there. It's a tough one on what would be the best methods to deal with these people, prision doesn't seem to be the best solution, just a way for the public to exact their revenge and ignore the problems.

 

[Kebabhead]

It's a tough one on what would be the best methods to deal with these people, prision doesn't seem to be the best solution, just a way for the public to exact their revenge and ignore the problems.

Would you agree it was right to release Thompson & Venables?

Jailing people is not about revenge it's about protecting the public and dealing with crime in a civilised manner

 

[blasted]

Would you agree it was right to release Thompson & Venables?

Jailing people is not about revenge it's about protecting the public and dealing with crime in a civilised manner

Thompson and Venables is an extreme example with no clear cut answer and one that thankfully isn't that common. However they were still children at the time of what they did, as horrific as it was.

Jailing people especially kids in the short term doesn't always work and jailing in the long term causes damage to the individual, reinforcing the negative cycles, not breaking them.

 

[brumhee]

Would you agree it was right to release Thompson & Venables?

Jailing people is not about revenge it's about protecting the public and dealing with crime in a civilised manner

I wasn't sure about that until I watched Kid A. Granted its a fictional story but I can't believe all of them want to come out and do the same again.

Isn't prison supposed to be a rehabilitation as well as punishment?

 

[Kebabhead]

I wasn't sure about that until I watched Kid A. Granted its a fictional story but I can't believe all of them want to come out and do the same again.

Isn't prison supposed to be a rehabilitation as well as punishment?

Depends on the crime committed. You'd have to look at reoffending rates for individual crimes

How woud you react if you found out you live next door to a former convicted killer/rapist who claimed to have repented

 

[brumhee]

Depends on the crime committed. You'd have to look at reoffending rates for individual crimes

How woud you react if you found out you live next door to a former convicted killer/rapist who claimed to have repented

Personally I'd give them a chance - I'd be more wary but they have to be given a chance to show they have changed.

 

[kBm]

Isn't prison supposed to be a rehabilitation as well as punishment?

It is, and in the article i linked to they wrote about young lads who take the mick out of the 'rehabilitation'- getting stuff for their cells, claiming life inside is a walk in the park etc

The other side of the coin - lads who gain qualifications, who vow never to return.

Maybe all prison sentences should be indefinately - only to be released once they are no longer a threat or likely to reoffend?

 

[IL Cattivo]

Reading the Amnesty Case study in the OP's article link I really don't see how Miss Cheramie (for example) can still be considered a high risk to the public. She has quite clearly shown during her time behind bars that she intends to make a decent life for herself and not go out on a killing spree the moment the shackles come off!

 

[blasted]

She has quite clearly shown during her time behind bars that she intends to make a decent life for herself and not go out on a killing spree the moment the shackles come off!

Unfortunatly in America she won't be getting that opportunity.

 

[SBT]

Unfortunatly in America she won't be getting that opportunity.

She won't have the opportunity to commit further crimes either.

Don't commit crimes , and you won't find yourself locked up in the first place