Would it be ethical to "reprogram" criminals?

Question

I asked another question that brought this up ( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AreQPks1ucZtqL9FcjJDLr7sy6IX?qid=20070122214904AAcQQI2 ) and I was suprised at the hardline opinions of many. So if technology permitted would it be ethical to involuntarily change the mindsets/personalities of people with high recidivism rates? Maybe just criminals in general?

This is a cross list, as I couldn't decide which category would be best.

Answer 1

This is the kind of question/problem that John Locke talked about. His answer would have been yes.

Immanual Kant would have said No. To do so would be to cross the one boundary against which there is a catagorical imperitive, that of taking essentially posession of another human being.

Personally, I think that if you are incapable of living within society, then society has an obligation to remove you. And don't give me any of this BS about how certain types of criminals have no abilty to control their urges. They control their urges well enough to stay hidden from society for long stretches of time. If pedaphiles were incapable of self control, they would run straight for the play grounds the second they were released from prison. Instead, they control their urges long enough to plan a crime they hope to get away with.

As for your hypothetical technology, I think that a criminal would have to consent to brainwashing and at the same time be deemed by independent judges to be consenting of his own free will. (This second part being the REAL philosophical problem.)

Answer 2

Yes.

Because you are referring to 'emotionally unbalanced' neural hardwiring...not their memory or identity. If you are changing their impulses, then you are getting at the source of it. The procedure you describe is kind of primitive. I was thinking more along the lines of a neural re-arrangement on the emotional and subconcious level. Such technology does not exist at the current moment so I would probably say no. But if it did, then yes (just wait for the technology)...that is why they take medication in the first place..to get them rid of these impulses..

so if you change the impulses directly..I think that would solve the problem...Maybe make them start thinking in the right way, and be emotionally more intelligent in the way they look at the world and situations.

So yea, its totatlly ethical---...concidering that we are sorounded by irrational people in society right now, I think such justice, even if the technology becomes available, will probably not become implemented until later.

Answer 3

Highly debated topic! I started doing research on the human brain and the ways in which it works when I was about 14yrs. Now I am a medical student who would like to continue doing research on that topic once I got the degrees I want. In general, all people are born 'good' - it is ones circumstances and surrounding influences which greatly determine your outcome. Keeping that in mind, there are virtually no 'bad' or 'evil' people per se. I have pondered with the idea of why we dream and what our dreams reveal about our self, our subconscious - I think that our personalities are greatly displayed trough our dreams. Now imagine this - a rehab center for criminals where they get sleep therapy and 'induced' or 'directed' dreams - constantly portraying positive things in ones dreams may bring back the 'good' out of people and eliminate the damage that has been done to the human soul....in other words....watch this space....

Answer 4

Mentally ill are treated without their consent. That is accepted because it is considered that they cannot perceive their own problem and because the problem is a danger to the community. It seems to be ethical, but it is ethical the same way as "reprogramming" criminals. You could also argue whether criminals are mentally ill. For the cases to be "reprogrammed", that is probably true.
Is it ethical? It is better than revenge.

Answer 5

Haven't you seen clockwork orange? ;)

No. It's not. That's easy. Besides, obviously "criminals" is a pretty broad term. Sometimes people steal to feed their families and they have no real anti-social problems... Sometimes people download songs illegally...

Since you're probably talking about deliberately dangerous criminals though, I think that they're almost always found to have mental problems... And clearly it's not ethical to mess with the brains of human beings just because they have mental problems.

I guess if they volunteered.... just like any medical procedure, it's our responsibility to ensure it's a safe and ethical procedure before performing it.

Also, I just don't believe it's possible to successfully achieve this though.

Answer 6

Although the thought of reprogramming a criminal is a nice one, it would not be conceivable since it would consist of a medical proceedure that our justice system would never allow.In many ways it would be like giving criminals labotomies and hoping that in scrambling their brains there is a chance it may reverse their urge to commit crimes.Instead of trying to reform the criminals, it s much easier to just continue building jails & prisons to house them in.About 75% of all criminals that are released from jails & prisons do find themselves being sent back again & again,only because they feel safer locked up than they do on the streets wondering what they are going to do in order to survive.

Answer 7

I would say bad idea. Reminds me of a clockwork orange. People shouldnt be brainwashed into continuing life for societies benefit. Instead, we should save the money it would cost to do such a thing and just use these criminals to clean up our roads and things of this nature. If they serve their terms then they will be readmitted into society.

Answer 8

I think it would be doable if we gave them a choice between reprograming and a lighter sentence versus just a heavy hard time sentence. The ACLU will likely make even this choice a contention in court, but I woudl like to see it tried.

Answer 9

No. Because too much of "criminality" is based upon the judgement of the times. And times change...

Answer 10

babylon 5 was a great show