Would tattoo or branding deter crimes?

Question

Do you think that if we branded a criminal with a tattoo on their forehead (or other visible location), that it would deter people from commiting crimes?

For example, a child molester be branded with the word "Pedophile"..or a thief "Thief".

Maybe we could just use symbols instead of the entire word.

How effective do you think this would be? Would it be a better alternative to prison or even the death penalty? Would it save money on tax monies that support the prison system?

Branding would probably work better as tattoos can be removed.

thoughts on this?

Answer 1

No, because pretty soon it would be like a badge of honor to all the wanna be thugs... like the way the baggy pants trend came about because prison uniforms tend to be larger than necessary

Answer 2

You must also consider those who are accused of things and are not guilty. Also a small percentage of criminals change their ways and may actually want to live a life after prison/jail and not want a tattoo of "ROBBER" or "PEDOPHILE" on their forehead. Not all accused criminals are guitly.

Also you must consider that this probably wouldn't deter them. Many of the people that go to prison are there for a long time and wouldn't care because they don't have time to have a life afterwards.

By putting the people that commit crimes into jail, it creates more crime. It is putting a human in a situation to hate the world and learn more about criminalization. I think that instead of prisons that we put money into rehabilitation centers for all kinds of disorders then people would be a lot better off than coming out of prison.

Good question, it does bring up many issues.

Answer 3

Tattoos can be masked so if something like what you are suggesting were ever implemented, a program would have to be in place to hold the offender accountable for tampering with their identifier. In addition, I would reserve even the thought of tatts or brands for use on repeat loss of life or violent sexual offenders. If a SO or murderer offends after having been incarcerated and gone through treatment then there's no hope and the least we could do is warn others. Here's a thought; many gang members already wear a teardrop to signify murder. No deterrent there.

Answer 4

Most idiots who commit crimes would consider a tattoo a mark of pride. (Check out the Prison Ganges tattoo's and markings that are currently in use) Pedophiles and rapist I would rather be sentences to castration considering over 50% of all people who go to prison for those offenses return to prison within a year or 2 of probation or parole... Any murderer should be (at a minimum) sentenced to life in prison under heavy sedation and at age 90 "mercy executed" to insure they don't "suffer" to much. To save money on the prison system I believe that all inmates be forced to work for a living.. If they want to eat a normal meal and sleep in a "normal" bed then they should be forced to work for it. If they want television privileges they should have to work for those also, and any other entertainment and "luxuries" they need/want. A normal citizen has to work for and buy food and shelter why are inmates and convicts any different?

Answer 5

Sounds like a good idea. But, wouldn't we all receive a tattoo. Have you ever stolen anything? I have. Have you ever lied? I have. Have you ever done anything that you were ashamed to admit? I have. The difference is that some get caught and some don't. Did you know that God says that if you hate someone it is the same as murder? So I suppose that includes me too. Doesn't that make me a steeling, lying murderer? Maybe you too?

The way to stop crime is for people's lives to be changed. Repentance (turning away from sin) and following Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior will do that. Which is just the reason He came here. To forgive, change lives and to give eternal life.

Could it be that instead of figuring out what size stones the people need to have thrown at them, we could tell them and help them find this better way?

Answer 6

I don't think so. People change. I realize once a pedophile always a pedophile but just because some one shop lifts at 18 doesn't mean they will always be a thief.
We need to re-haul the judicial system. I can't believe people spend longer sentences for drugs and writing bad checks than they do for rape. In my state if it is a drug crime you serve every day of your sentence but if you rape a kid you can get parole. May be we should brand our government leaders stupid.

Answer 7

I don't really think it would do a lot of good except of the child molesters, they should be branded on every part of there body , this should happen before they go to jail, so when they get out people would know to keep their kids away.

The question was a good one and gave me a chuckle thinking about what to put on all the people in jail.

Answer 8

That is an awful idea. Branding or tattoing implies that that is what a person is, it does not leave room for change or rehabilitation nor does it encourage such things. They call prisons correctional facilities for a reason, not punishment facilities (although they probably are this). We should focus on rehabilitation, not condemning for life, though you could argue that they have condemned their victims for life, it depends on the crime and the nature of it.

Answer 9

I dunno. thats an interesting question, actually. I am afraid that if we tattooed or branded people, some idiot in the criminal justice system would misspell the words at times and bug the crap out of me. I already annoy my husband with the spelling peeve. Plus, the pedophile thing....kids cant always read. I think maybe if we cut off their arms and legs, their weenies, and their lips & tongues....MAYBE. They could be fairly safe in public then. Might want to gouge out their eyes too so that they cant look at kids and think bad things about them.

And I'm not being sarcastic. lol..I'm serious about that stuff! :)

Answer 10

I think it would be a great idea to do but the only problem is what do you do about juvenile offenders? Should they be branded too? I would say yes because i work with them and i know that most of them will continue to get worse as they get older. I wouldn't brand them on the head though...maybe on the forearm or hand. You don't want to get branded on the head because that would hurt your civil rights and crap.LOL!!!! Anyways yeah it would be a great idea.