If punishments don't deter criminals, whats the point of them?

Question

The main excuse we hear for not reintroducing capital punishment is it is not a deterent. If capital punishment isn't a deterent either is prison. So what can we do to protect the most vunerable, because that is the point of the justice system.

Answer 1

Locking people away for a period protects victims for a short while. However, It is for a limited period and very often the victims have to move away when the criminal is released. As well as keeping prisoners out of circulation, a term of imprisonment can be used for teaching people valid new skills, on which to build a career, and can be used to give them a sense of self worth, in other words rehabilitate them. I have known prisoners learn to read and write while in prison, study for further qualifications and discover talents which they had never guessed, for example strong artistic ability. I've even known prisoners distinguish themselves so much while inside as to be offered jobs as members of staff upon their release (admittedly, not in the UK). There are, of course, other forms of community sentence, such as performing so many hours of community service, in which offenders put something back into the community through their work and probation, where attempts are made to sort them out and try to steer them in a better direction. However sceptical one feels about the ultimate value of these forms of punishment, the fact that they deter some people from reoffending makes them of some worth.

Answer 2

Punishment never works 100%. There are still countries in the world where people can be flogged in the streets, caned, tortured, stoned, beheaded, and have their limbs cut off. These are some pretty horrific consequences for their actions. But do crimes still happen? Yep.

Human history contains some brutal and sadistic punishments that turn most people's stomach. One medieval method of execution was to tie someone naked and upside-down between two trees. The victim would then be slowly sawn in half with a logging saw, starting between the legs and working towards the head.

If you research judicial punishments throughout history you will see plenty more examples.

But the common denominator is that no matter how brutal or sick the punishment was, crime still took place.

So you are quite right, you can make the punishment as disgusting and horrific as you like, but it will not deter certain criminals. If you do some research you will actually find that the states in America that have capital punishment, also happen to have the highest homicide rate. You'd think that the threat of the death penalty would work, but it does not.

The best way to protect the vulnerable is to provide outstanding social services. Crime is generally committed by desperate people who have slipped through the cracks and think they have nothing to lose. If you look at the countries around the world with the lowest instances of homicide and violent crime, they tend to have excellent social services and jails that rehabilitate criminals, and systems that try to prevent crime in the first place as opposed to draconian retribution after the crime has happened. Often their social services cut down on the grinding poverty that often leads to crime.

Answer 3

The best way to deter someone from commiting a crime is to make sure they understand what they did wrong, then make the punishment harsh and apply it consistently.

Prison may not be fun, but it certainly isn't harsh. Does anyone understand the sense behind giving a sentence, then slashing it in half?? No, me neither.

How do we protect the most vulnerable? We must act together as a community. We all have eyes, we all have ears and a sympathetic shoulder. We must use our assets together - and not expect the government to do it all for us!

Answer 4

That is the issue. We sentence them, they do their time, some even get some education, but jails are about punishment not rehabilitation! Then we let them right back out in the same exact environment they came from. You wont effect any change with that sort of approach!

The other issue is that many are violent offenders who you are not going to "cure", just like you well never cure a pedophile!

And prison is a deterrent, as long as they are there! Albeit, not a very good one in the long run!

Answer 5

The point of the justice system is to impose sanctions against those brought before it.
It has no interest in protection other than to impose the recently introduced indeterminate sentence for public protection.
We are 2or 3 generations away from being able to protect the vulnerable and only then if we Educate society with more egalitarian values, if we try to remove some of the inequalities in society.
Stop Corralling people in council sink estates and removing their hope.Re-teach us all to love thy neighbour or just be good ones

Answer 6

I suppose the point of locking people up as a punishment is to remove them from the general population, thereby preventing them from committing any more offences for that period, and equally as a punishment by incarcerating them (a bit like a grown up naughty step).

Capital punishment doesn't necessarily work as a deterrent, but it certainly does prevent them from recommitting (as long as you've sentenced the right person in the first place)!

Answer 7

I blame Elizabeth Fry for all of this. She was the one who wanted to improve conditions in prisons. The only problem was, it's opened the flood gates and now prisons are more like hotels and NOT the institutes of correction they should be.
If we were to re-introduce hard labour, capital punishment, introduce chain gangs and make the punishment fit the crime, then prison would be a deterrent.

Answer 8

It deters people away that want to keep a clean record, but once its ruined, there really is no point is there?

I mean jailers, often go "Yeah, its like a hotel, get fed and a place to sleep" - they have like lost everything so it doesnt really matter if they go to jail again..

I think we should put these people in jail to work. At least enough theat they pay for their own jail time (resources), and sentences should be a money amount (instead of time - which they parol out early anyways)

they should work for what they get in jail, and work out the amount of money to reduce the sentence..

Answer 9

If prisons were really prison then yes it would deter them.

But we give them weight rooms (so they can get stronger then the guards) they get cable TV HBO and the rest. They get libraries so they can learn how to go to court and sue the government.

Look at sheriff Joe from AZ that is the model that should be followed, tent city and in the desert where it is HOT.

Answer 10

No point at all. Better to put them in prison and make them work there. That will deter them in future. I mean lots of useful work. Might as well earn their keep.