Why are we so soft on criminals ?

Question

It seems to me that we need to take a hard line with all criminals and forget about the do-gooders

Prisons were a great deal harsher in the 40s/50s, less chance of rehabilitation and a lot less criminals, make you wonder !

Jared H, Read my question again !

Why ask if I've done time in prison ? If I had my question may be that we need to let the poor thing out because its so hard.

Answer 1

I posed this same question a few weeks ago and got the same assortment of NO BRAIN responses you are getting. You know, the ones with less than 10 words and no cogent thought.
I believe people of this country want tough law enforcement on others, but not on themselves. The reason is that we want to shift the responsibility for our actions to others so we sue fast food companies because they got us fat, the cigarette companies because they gave us lung cancer, etc. We're insensed when we hear that a person can receive a cain lashing for spitting on the sidewalk in some countries.
We are soft on crime because we tolerate being victimized and victimizing others. We think its the price we have to pay for freedom. Thats total BS!!! We would be far more free from fear, suspicision, anxiety, and depression if we eliminated those who are and act antisocial. Off with their heads!

Answer 2

I am sure that in the UK we are far too soft on criminals. However, we start letting them down - and indeed ourselves - with all the liberal bleeding heart stuff.

Kids who WILL NOT behave at school - so they don't have to go - or maybe one day a week - then they have time on their hands and get into trouble. They have parents who don't have a clue how to bring them up and are on social security for LIFE. The cycle is self-perpetuating.

When I was a kid we HAD to go to school - if we misbehaved we were punished - not given time off for BAD behaviour.

I agree that prison is not always the right place for some people - as young offenders they need help. They need to be taught skills, SELF RESPECT and right from wrong so that they can take their place in society as a law abiding citizen.

There are so many faults with society in this country and unless someone starts to do something about it, they will only get worse.

Having said all that, obviously there are some hardened, violent, sick and disgusting criminals who deserve worse than they get in Britains cushy prisons - but god forbid we breach their human rights ....................

Answer 3

We're soft on criminals because magistrates and particularly judges are so very out of touch. They see a nice looking young man/woman in their court, normally dressed very smartly, (as) well spoken (as they can be), and they go easy on them. They don't realise the pain and suffering some people go through at the mercy of these criminals. Our prisons are also overflowing. Probably because criminals are treated so well in there, I know of some people that actually offend to go back inside. Free lodgings paid for by the tax-payer, use of a gym every day, drugs, tellys, three free meals a day. It must be such a hard life. Make it tough again I say, make it a miserable place to go, and get the people that should be in there, in there, for the time they deserve. Sorry, rant over. :o)

Answer 4

Have you ever been jailed?
Criminals get what they deserve being locked up, but it is no picnic. Imagine having (deservedly or not) all your rights as an individual taken away. Having to live in filthy conditions, being told when to lay down and when to get up, being fed substandard slop, constant fear of being raped, injured or possibly murdered, having no privacy, sleeping where you eliminate, a six by six foot cell with possibly two or more inmates beside yourself, limited contact with relatives and friends, medical treatment just this side of inhumane.
We treat criminals poorly enough. After treating people like animals, and on top of that giving them a record that makes it all but impossible to reintegrate into society, we wonder about recidivism rates? A few weights and a television are not luxuries under those conditions.
Society needs to invest in rehabilitating people. Punishment alone is not a solution. Number me amongst the do gooders!

Answer 5

That's not really fair since the War on Drugs has made us #1 in the world in terms of % of our own population we lock away. Have you actually done any time in a prison? Maybe you should at least check out a documentary or 2 before you start saying we go easy on criminals. Although if you mean the criminals in Washington, I'm with you, we are too soft on them.

Answer 6

I think the laws and sentencing guidelines needs to be written more fairly and omit racist laws (ex. crack cocaine vs powder cocaine)

I also think that if we had MORE schools than prisons we would have a more educated public which in return would keep crime down to begin with.

In california there are more prisons being built than schools.

I think the justice system in general needs a lot of changes.

We have the highest incarceration rate in the WORLD! Doesnt that send a red flag up in your mind?

Why would you cast away do-gooders, isnt that exactly what we need, people do to some good?

Answer 7

It's because all our jails are rammed and for some reason the government doesn't seem to want to build any more prisons, so they dish out soft sentences to get them in and out again ready for the next batch of scumbags.

And I can't believe someone has given me the thumbs-down; it's the right bloody answer. Check this out.

Answer 8

well known fact most first timers know more about crime after they come out. they need to learn a trade all prisoners do. the only reasonable thing i can think off is kill triple offenders but thats extreme it still has to rehabilitation for all.

i think the law should be if you find someone burglaring your house and you feel threatened then if you had to kill him then its justifiable homicde.

Answer 9

Political correctness and liberalism gone mad.

It seems the "human rights" of a mugger, rapist, paedophile, murderer or terrorist are far more important that the "rights" of their victims.

There's always some left wing idiot willing to bleat "oh but he had a bad childhood . . ." like thats an excuse to commit evil acts.

Answer 10

every action causes a reaction - tit for tat

we are becoming more soft on criminals because more people are realising the folly of harsh punnishment

It is better to treat criminals the way we treat sick people - rehabilitate them so they won't reoffend