What is the purpose of punishment?

Question

Do you think our current idea of punishment and our way of dealing with offenders works?

In what ways does it work, in what ways doesnt it?

After answering those two, see how your answer to the first one relates to your answer to the second, and let me know how consistent your beliefs about justice/punishment are with your perception of the reality of modern justice systems.

How could it be improved?

Ah, but do YOU think it works... and what do you think the purpose SHOULD be? :)

Answer 1

There are many possible purposes for punishment, particularly for imprisonment. Paradoxically, some of them are at odds with one another, yet we continue to believe that one system can and should be able to meet all the goals. These possible goals are:

Specific deterrence - once a person has been punished, that individual will not do wrong again out of fear of punishment

General deterrence - people other than the wrongdoer will not do wrong once they have seen what happens to wrongdoers out of fear of the same thing happening to them

Incapacitation - the wrongdoer is prohibited from additional wrongdoing at least for the period of incarceration

Rehabilitation - "Punishment" should somehow retrain and/or redirect the wrongdoer to correct their ways so they are not inclined to do wrong again.

Restitution - The wrongdoer is required to attempt to "right the wrong" to the victim by repaying the debt, either monetarily or with time, service, etc.

Retribution - Wrongdoers simply deserve punishment for wrongdoing; the punishment should "fit" the level of wrongdoing in some manner

Moral Outrage - Society needs an outlet to express its anger at the wrongdoer and "purge" society of them, at least temporarily, by removing them from "civil" society

Depending on how these goals are prioritized, one's perception of what "works" and doesn't will vary considerably. Given that many of these goals are mutually exclusive, it appears unlikely any single system of punishment can meet them all.