Christians, Atheists, and all religions. What is your view?

Question

Some feel that the longer a person stays in prison, the more it costs the state=our tax dollars. My question is: If prison sentences were to be cut a little shorter (meaning fewer inmates in prison and decreasing the need for more money) BUT CASTRATION was part of the punishment, would the crime rate drop? The fact that castration is part of the punishment would need to be known by the public. On crimes like auto theft/grand theft, would the crime rate drop if part of the punishment included the amputation of some fingers? I realize this sounds a little barbaric but would (especially castration) work? I think this procedure may have been used a long time ago... What are your religious & non-religious, feelings on this?

Aditional comments: Women inmates could be subject to ovary and/or breast removal Many states have the death penalty, but few carry it out. So- Castration would be mandatory for murder too. To be castrated while in prison would cause that person some big time problems. Finally: What about the state tattooing the inmate in a visible area somthing like "Former Convicted Child Molester" or "Convicted Rapist" or "Former Auto Thief" etc....Good idea? Bad idea?

Answer 1

I think that this sort of public embarrasment, would definitely deter more criminals. Although amputation of fingers/limbs or castration, for me, are a bit extreme, they maybe needed for some hardened criminals.

Some people, especially the youth, do crime, in order to heighten their social standing. For example, as part of initation, they may go around vandalising or stealing goods. Some of these children, upon their successful escapades, maybe enticed to move on bigger crimes, like gangfights and such.

With demeaning punishments, however, also stands the possibility of degrading the criminals, and therefore, against the human rights.

Where I came from, Singapore, we have strict rules on punishment. Its used to be the case when principals are able to lay the cane on misbehaving students, however, the parents these days are so protective of their brood, tht the principals are in fear of being complained by the parents and they lose the jobs.

Hence, the children nowadays, no longer fearing the cane with their parents support, petty crimes like "happy slapping" and bullying are becoming rather rampant in schools, as the children involve either do it to relieve their own stress or out of peer pressure.

Singapore is a pretty safe place, due to the strict laws we have. I'm pretty sure some would find our fines and punishment regarding vandalisms and even chewing gum a bit strict, but the government did it to minimise the costs of cleaning up these acts, and able to transfer the funds into something more worthwhile.

However, some people (like munkee81) have the wrong concept that Singapore uses practices chopping of fingers (dunno where she gets the idea rom).

We are a strict country, not a harsh one. Despite we lack the total freedom of speech, we still have human rights

There is no one size fits all solution. In your addition, you mentioned about tattoing convicted criminals. Although this may aid the public in avoiding these people, however, this will make them become more ostracized and more prone to crime. Another possibility would be that these criminals, would take these tattoos as some form of self glorification, annoucing ther "badness" to their peers

Answer 2

I believe in God but my view on crime is that it is something for the government do--punishment, prevention, especially prevention. Religion should have nothing to do with it except in the vague sense that all our morals are related to religion.

Government crime policy should be based on how best to protect society from criminals. The govt. shouldn't do things to make us 'feel better', it should work to prevent crime.

This is why I don't believe in capital punishment. It's never been shown to work as a deterrent. It's actually more expensive than putting someone in jail for life without possibility of parole. I think it's barbaric, but I would favor it if it worked. It just doesn't work!

But people who do favor capital punishment, when you hear them defend it, it's all about 'Yeah, that'll show 'em! Yeah, serve 'em right! Yeah!' You can see it's not about crime prevention at all, it's about vengeance! This is why politicians try so hard to sell capital punishment It's a 'Feel Good' measure! And it's depressing to think what kinds of things make Americans feel good!

The idea is that there is no solution to crime except punishment. And if punishment doesn't work, well then we just need MORE punishment! We've doubled sentences and doubled them again. We have more of our population in jail than any other country, including some really uncivilized ones like China, Cuba, even Myanmar. If you could make the streets safer by locking people up, we'd have the safest streets in the world!

Castrating criminals is the same kind of thing. Do you think amputating the hands of thieves makes a country safer from theft? No, it just shows that the country hasn't advanced from medieval times, that's all. But I bet it makes a lot of people in those countries happy!

Answer 3

In the middle east they treat criminals like this in some countries. Yes it does deter some crime. But it cannot change a person's heart. Because sexual offenses are about control and rage, not sexual lust, I don't believe castration would be a truly effective solution. Once the perpetrator healed he/she would most likely move on to assault or other crimes of passion. I am giving you my opinion; I was molested by more than one person in my childhood.

Our system of freedom has left us struggling with those who abuse it. Because we refuse to take away individual freedom, as they do in some countries, we have to deal with the results of peoples' selfish, evil behavior.

I am a Christian. It is the most important thing to me; I don't play at it, is what I mean. As I've read the Bible, I believe God originally intended mankind to live in a "Theocracy", a society ruled by God. Sin and rebellion, evil and cruelty exist and many people believe many things differently or even believe nothing. All I can say is that I live my life under the protection and loving rulership of Jesus Christ. I do fail; I make mistakes. I apologise and start over. If it were not for my relationship to Jesus, I would be a bitter, sarcastic jerk who would be a misery to know. I'm sure of this because I was pretty much like that when I met Jesus in 1971. Boy, He has sure cleaned up my act....with love and patience. His love has changed me 1000 times more than any system of rules ever could. Rules made me rebel, Jesus' love made me choose to cooperate and behave.

This is a very controversial question, I'm sure you will get many lively answers in response! Enjoy, just look out for the flying words!!!!!! :)

Answer 4

Although the Bill of Rights forbid Cruel and unusually punishment; I'd like to see something along those lines. But as follows: If you murder you are beheaded, if you area theft cut off an arm.. If you are a drug dealer cut off your head. So yes it would work despite what some people claim that it would not work.
HOWEVER, the person has to be prove beyond a reasonable doubt, prior to punishment

Answer 5

Prisons should be defined for hard core criminal like murders and rapists etc. I do not like your ideal of castration cause it is too harsh but reabilation of some sort would be okay whereas prisioners would be more compassionate in dealing or thinking of their crime. God gives life and no man should have the right to take life or cut off any limbs. Yes it is the law of the land and we just have to abide by it.

Answer 6

Muslim's have a tendency to cut off criminals' hands and the Nazis thought that castration of men and removal of female ovaries might be helpful. Sorry to say that none of these worked - you're stuck with the full gamut of human behaviour. Often, as with pedophiles, the only thing you can do is keep them away from society, in one way or another.

Answer 7

Violent punishment (deterance) is shown to be an ineffective means of preventing crime. In fact, it has been shown to INCREASE crime. States which have the death penalty have nearly twice the murder rate of state that don't.

Perhaps because the only thing that violence does is perpetuate violence, whether it's by the state or by an individual.

I am an atheist.

Answer 8

I agree. In Singapore, they cut of your fingers and hands for theft. Theft is a VERY small problem there. I've always preached that pedophiles should be castrated. Thieves should loose a hand. Drug addicts, well, honestly they are killing themselves. And murderers? Let's just say if anyone deserves to rot in prison it's them. I'll gladly pay tax dollars to keep them in there.

Answer 9

When there was the death penalty in England, there were many murders.

Many murders are family affairs, and people do not weigh up the consequences first.

I doubt whether the yobbos on the streets do either. They won't think that they might be caught.

Answer 10

No. First of all rape is usually committed as an act of violence the 'sex' part is only secondary.

I believe that a person that commits habitual crimes does so to produce a certain pychological 'high' and these people will find other ways to accomplish this. Perhaps some will be legal, but I truly doubt it.