Despite efforts to punish criminals and make them fear crime, there is little evidence that the fear of apprehension and punishment can reduce crime rates.
2007-03-01 07:46:14 · 5 answers · asked by chewymocah21 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
One of the biggest problems with the effectiveness of punishment is its proximity in time to the actual crime. That is the criminal offender has to be able to associate the punishment with the crime. Long delays in prosecuting the offender all the offender to associate the punishment with the criminal justice system itself. Thus when the term is served the thing that the criminal has learned is not to trust the law.
The real deterrents to recidivism are hope and support systems. There are people who commit crimes because they enjoy it but the vast majority are just trying to get by in life. Given half a chance to live in some level of hope and happiness, they'll forgo a life of crime.
2007-03-01 07:59:34 · answer #1 · answered by Ernie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a percentage of the population that, given no law enforcement, would willingly and frequently break laws. These are generally good people, who mean well, go to church, generally obey rules without concern of enforcement, but will also, speed, cut in line, steal small things, etc., if they think no ones looking or no one cares. They are not "bad", just willing to be lazy or undisciplined should it serve one of their needs.
We call this percentage "average citizens". It's not the fear of punishment, it's the fear of damaged reputation that holds them in check.
Jail time will not make a difference to a person who doesn't care about enforcement, but it will make a difference to the "average citizen" in two ways. First, it provides a small, but significant incentive to stay "legal" and second, Jail time protects the average citizen from the even smaller percentage of the population called "repeat criminals" who will seldom, if ever, be concerned about punishment. "Criminals" don't "fear crime", if they did they'd be "average citizens".
Surely you're not advocating that we shouldn't enforce criminal law, on the theory that crime won't rise?
2007-03-01 08:03:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There really isn't much to fear. Most people get off the hook 3 or more times before any punishment and even then the punishment isn't usually very frightening. A little jail time or community service.
2007-03-01 07:54:24 · answer #3 · answered by nightdrake66 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats why public hangings were so popular. They were a deterrant and in the days before cable it was the best way to spend an afternoon.
2007-03-01 08:15:27 · answer #4 · answered by Quasimodo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats why the death penalty should apply to many more crimes.
2007-03-01 11:47:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋