Should life mean life for criminals?

Question

Should all prisoners have to complete all there sentences?i.e. if you get 3 years you do 3 years.If so what deterrent would there be for the prisoners to conform and behave whilst locked up?without remission it would kick off constantly with riots etc which would make the system collapse.You need to give prisoners the incentive to toe the line.Anyone agree?If you dont agree please justify your answer

do you really think your way would work?If so why don't the government implement it as it would surely be a vote winner according to your response.They have obviously looked at this and decide against it....Why??

Answer 1

The more time criminals spend in jail, the more time they are communicating with "like-minded people", therefore they are most likely feeding their anger and despise for their society. Those that find jail life miserable and take a pro-active approach to their time behind bars, by instructing themselves or just reading, especially about philosophy or religion, are the ones you may be released on parole before their time is up. The problem arises when they are released and find that the only employment they are offered is a minimum wage job because of their criminal record. So even if they have reformed, society is still giving them a hard time, making robbing, stealing, killing, etc. a much easier way to make ends meet.
Unfortunately, in our society, there are many business owners, politicians, so-called professionals and actors/musicians (50 Cent), that committed crimes to get to where they are- only difference is that they were not caught!
I believe prison should be replaced with educational facilities where people who have chosen the wrong (or easy) path are given instruments to make their life more meaningful. This includes philosophy, theology, and a choice of subjects that would enhance their knowledge for their particular society. Time spent alone, in solitaire, would also aid them find their inner peace, as many philosophers have experienced: Buddha, Jesus, Socrates, etc. all spent time meditating alone, away from society's temptations.

Answer 2

A life sentence for a 20 year old and out in 8 years... Pointless. Say what you mean and set the parameters at sentencing, i.e. 20 years with possible parole after 12. with a rider that a second conviction for any crime would automatically include the reduced 8 years in addition to whatever sentence is handed down, second convictions are automatically without parole.
Child molesters should get automatic life, no second chances, why should another child suffer?
Murder, is a difficult one. Most murders involve people who know each other and there is a tension and usualy some regret and the murderer is not a reall threat to society as such, in these cases it is more of a tragedy than a crime, whereas murder for fun ala Shipman, West Sutcliff et al, well a rope sounds good to me.
To get off the tangent, yes life should mean you get carried out on a box. Baas!!

Answer 3

Prison is the best way to forget about the problem and just make people behave by the rules for the fear of being locked up. The system is flawed because there are not proper resources and tools made to tackle the problem from the root. Many prisoners have legitimate reasons by many standards and were caught up in the circumstances. They lack the knowledge and will to want to do the right thing and they need to be given the proper tools and help to be able to understand how to coexist and cope with problems. I would recommend education first and then proper help in understanding how to get past their limitations and be given fair and proper chances for them to be able to succeed.

The need a system that cares and makes a good effort which we do not have. People don't care so out of sight, out of mind is the norm.

Answer 4

Think the simple fact of the matter is that prisons are overcrowded and they don't have enough space to keep prisoners for the duration of their sentences.
In theory, it seems logical that if a sentence is 6 months, a prisoner must serve those full six months.
I think it would help deter re-offenders, and help victims see proper justice being done.
People need the incentive to behave on the outside world (first and foremost), not in prison.
;-)

Answer 5

I personally feel that we should adopt a system similar to the one used in the USA where you are sentenced to a minimum and maximum jail term (ie; 5 to 10) and that some offences are so serious that they are sentenced to life in prison without any hope of parole

Also, I am not if favour of the death sentence as there is too much of a margin for error and mistakes are made sometimes only coming to light many years later, I would rather they were sentenced not just to Life without parole but life without parole with hard labour.

Answer 6

Yes a life sentence should have no compromises. If a crime is bad enough to warrant a life sentence that sentence should be served as ordered by a judge.

I think you would have to logically look at the crime in order to set up ways of keeping prisioners in line.

Group therapy, required education, physical activities, work activities within the facility, mental counseling such as anger management, recreation time on a by point system, so many things can be done to rehab a prisioner and allow him to understand the consequences of his actions that put him/her there.

Physical and mental abuse is not and never will be the answer for inmates.

Answer 7

A lifer given a 15 years prison sentence for murder, once said to me. My life is over. I don't care no more anyone f*cks with me they are getting it. We had to convince him that there was light at the end of the tunnel, it's just gonna take time.

In Prisons convicted murderers rule, not the screws. Imagine a prison full of lifers who had to do life till the day they die. They would team together and break down walls to escape and would break prison rules because there would be no other punishment, unless you torture them and the human rights commission would have a field day.

The only other way would be to bring them to the moon and leave them.

Answer 8

I do not agree. Everyone knows that if you break the law seriously enough, you could go to jail for it. So you gotta be prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions. If one becomes a serial killer, kills 9 people, and is given prison for life, they should serve that. If a (serial) rapist is given 5 years, they should serve FIVE YEARS. Criminals don't just break the law, they hurt feelings, scar people emotionally (and even psychologically) and if one is raped or severely hurt by someone, they never truly recover. Criminals should serve their time, because they caused the pain and the crime to occur. If they are given the death penalty, they should not still be on death row 5 years from now.

Answer 9

Yes it bloody well should. 'Life' should mean life. People who are given life sentences are generally murderers, rapists and peadophiles. Why should they be let back into normal society? Even if they never re-offend some of these people are so disgusting that I don't want to walk the same streets as them. If keeping them locked up poses certain social or financial questions then the answer is simple - rope is cheap. Keeping someone in jail until their old age is expensive.

Answer 10

Unfortunately my older brother has served a 4 year sentence he was sentenced to 7, for cutting someone.Some one who beat a 15 year old boy into hospital for 7 weeks(my cousin) for nothing or perhaps he did n't pull that night he was 23 and got no sentence.I think the police need to catch proper criminals before they make people serve full sentences!Now if you get 7 years plus you do n't get half time maybe 5 or 51/2 for 7!
You do get benefits if you behave well such as TV,PlayStation in your sell more visits,more social time out of sell good work duties(Gardening,education) and privileges are removed for disruption!
Some people in prison have genuinely made mistakes (my brother) he would not do that to someone who did not deserve it and regrets doing it now! and would probably never do it again,so why not let him out sooner!
Some people in there are actually a danger to the public or deserve to do life.Harsher punishment should be given it is easy in there if you are used to it. We pay for these people to stay in prison why not make them do something to pay us back!
Maybe even the death penalty if shown no remorse! stop us paying more tax!