Is it a function of the Justice System to give victims revenge?

Question

We hear a lot more about punishment and deterrent, even rehabilitation, but what about revenge?

Some say you should forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them more. There is no revenge so sweet as forgiveness. The only people you should try to get even with are those who have helped you.

Others say revenge is so sweet the Lord kept it for himself.

Answer 1

yes it is, if someone kills my kid i want them to die, and if we did not have a legal system to do that, than i would go and do that, that is why there is law, so people do not go around taking vengeance themselves because it would be a cycle that never stopped, instead we make sure it is the right person, and we give them the right punishment for the crime, vengeance is part of justice, and it is right to me, but its impractical to have people going around doing it themselves, society would fall apart... people can cover it up anyway they want, saying we put people to death for justice's sake, but it is more than that of course, it is hate and vengeance, and having hate and vengeance directed towards evil people is not a bad thing, to have any less for them would diminish love and compassion... we dont kill people because it is written in some book, because it is some law and it is their punishment, we kill them because of vengeance, the families vengeance, societies vengeance, and humanities vengeance... justice and vengeance are not the separate things they appear to be... rent the movie A Time to Kill if you have not seen it already, it does a nice job dealing with this issue... and i am sure a lot of people would disagree with this, and i have not been to law school or anything but its what i think is right... very nice question

Answer 2

The function of the justice system is three-fold

1) deterrence - we make sure that the the justice system discourages wrong-doing i.e. negative societal conditioning by imposing punishment (applicable to probable law offenders);

2) rehabilitation or security - we make sure that the guilty party is conditioned (applicable to the incidental law offender), if not conditionable, as much as possible contained (applicable to serial law offenders);

3) compensation - we make sure that the wrong done to a victim is reversed, by the guilty party or by the state, whichever can do it better (applicable to the aggrieved);

4) fairness - the concept of equality of application: we make sure that everyone is treated the same;

So where does revenge fit in? Retribution can be categorized if we will analyze why a particular person wants revenge. Let us see the common scripts:

1) "Knowing that the criminal feels the pain I felt makes me feel better." - compensation

2) "We need to teach him a lesson." - rehabilitation

3) "I don't want this to happen to my son/father/etc." - deterrence

4) "If I had been punished when I once did something wrong, or will be punish if I will do so, why shouldn't he be punished for a wrong he did or will do?" - fairness

Just a side-note though: morality is something that is independent of this of the justice system or methodology. In fact, justice is merely an instrument to implement morality.

Answer 3

The purpose of the criminal justive system is to punish wrong doing. What is considered a crime is socially constructed.. for example, it changes historically, culturally and anthropologically.. What punishments are considered appropriate also change over time.

Revenge is not taken into consideration - instead an establishment of the 'truth' and a 'just' sentence appropriately given (at least in theory!)

Incidentally - to forgive only to 'annoy an enemy' is not true forgiveness and the notion of a God being a vengeful one seems very flawed..

Each crime is case specific - some things I might be able to forgive.. others never. For me it has always been more important what someone's INTENTIONS were when they do a certain act.. if someone stole a loaf for example but did it to feed their hungry children THAT kind of theft I could understand more than someone who also stole but to fund a lavish lifestyle etc

Answer 4

The object of criminal justice system is to detter the happening of the crime in future as well as if possible improve the criminal, however if the justice system feels that a criminal cannot be improved and the crime committed by him is of a henioous nature, he can be executed. However this execution is not for revenge but to save the society from such an element which can cause damage to the society. The theory of revenge does not hold good in the justice system. Revenge is for the common man not for the Justice system because it is devoid of feelings and emotions in terms of punishing the criminal. The sole aim of the punishment is to do justice.

Answer 5

well justice is revenge...if you think about it!!!

apparently "Gandhi" was different in this matter. his perception was like this
"Noone can take your respect until or unless we allow ourselves to do him so"

the idea is that forgiving your enemies or forgetting abut your revenge is not an easy task. it's very very very very hard for us to forgive somebody.... that's why forgiveness is held in high esteem by the lord..
remember i am talking about forgiveness when you also had the power of taking the revenge as well. usually giving forgiveness than revenge is heroic act..

Answer 6

How true excellent question gorgeous, vengeance is mine saith the Lord, therefore I say no, and I don't think it is. However, they have been allowing some victims family members to tell off the offenders. A couple of months ago there was a family that started kicking the defendants butt right in the courtroom? I believe Revelation is upon us. Of course some call it times of uncertainty. (Peace)

Answer 7

It is not a function of the criminal justice system to get revenge, which is precisely why victims of crime are urged not to take the law into their own hands. That could lead to revenge.

Best wishes, J

Answer 8

It's for punishment. Revenge always backfired for the judiciary

Answer 9

the justice system has nothing to do with revenge. It is to do with providing justice - personal feelings should not come into it.

Answer 10

by potential of your definition each police officer that has ever had to kill somebody so as to guard others ought to die. each soldier ever in touch in a conflict ought to die. after all you're making no enormous distinction, homicide is homicide, killing is killing. i in my opinion have not got any concern with the penalty under specific circumstances. Repeat convicted murderers, incredibly violent crimes, serial killers, etc. Charles Manson is a primary occasion. He has suggested multiple cases that if he's ever launch he will kill lower back. So why can we proceed to maintain him locked up and alive on the price of the prevalent public?