or should society ensure that the punishment always fit the Crime?
2007-10-15 02:33:38 · 15 answers · asked by kathy f 1 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Even if it "wasn't your fault" you still did it, and should thus be punished. Less severely tho.
2007-10-15 02:42:57 · answer #1 · answered by Jimmy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hard to tell sometimes what the best thing to do is. If it wasn't their fault, then hard to punish someone. I believe the concept of personal responsiblity has been steadily erroded as parents become more an more protective of their children. Nobody wants their child to be hurt, and I understand that. I have 2 children of my own.
Many families today are raising children that don't believe in delayed gratification. They have to have everything now. They don't have to work for what they get, either. I know of middle class families that gave brand new cars to their 16 yr olds for birthday presents. The message is, you don't have to work for what you get, and we'll get you anything. I think it breeds a lack of responsibility.
These same families will protect their children from consequences of their actions. Why not, our society is willing to bypass consequences for celebrities, and we allow our children to hold these people as heroic icons simply because of their celebrity, not because they have actually achieved anything. So, when Jenny gets a ticket for speeding, Mom & Dad hire the best lawyer they can to get their little darling off, thereby eluding the idea of consequences.
When you extrapolate this level of behavior out on a national scale, you can perhaps understand how we have become a nation that lives the "it's not my fault" motto.
It would be nice if society was able to ensure that the punishment always fits the crime, but the reality is, as long as we have people who are unwilling to let their children suffer the consequences of their actions, we'll have a society that will look for excuses for some members of the population.
Paris Hilton was walking free after several DUIs, a situation that, at least in my state, would never happen for the every day person. Her celebrity has allowed her to act as she will and rarely pay any price. Lindsay Lohan is another who, despite her many offences, has walked free. We don't have the abiltiy to enforce equally, or at least, we don't have the desire to.
2007-10-15 10:05:14 · answer #2 · answered by Night Owl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course the punishment should fit the crime. What's that got to do with "it wasn't my fault so don't blame me" ? Of course most people who say that are to blame but try to shift the blame onto others.
2007-10-15 09:48:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The punishment never fits the crime.
2007-10-15 09:36:45 · answer #4 · answered by Ollie 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its unfortunate but rarely does the punishment fit the crime. Sometimes people spend time in prison for minor offenses,and people get out of paying for there crimes at all like O.J. Justice isn't always served. We can only hope that somewhere what goes around comes around.
2007-10-15 09:41:45 · answer #5 · answered by rjm 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The punishment should always fit the crime. I am not suggesting brutal but just aand fitting
2007-10-15 09:36:57 · answer #6 · answered by Scouse 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It can be difficult trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
Assessing responsibility and apportioning punishment is often problematic .....particularly when justice itself can be so relative.
[ eg: Being stoned to death for kissing someone in public ~ seems somewhat unreasonable, a tad 'over the top.' However, the Law is the Law and justice must be swift and be seen to be done. ]
I'm not being 'soft on criminals,' by the way, I think that Public Stocks on village greens and city squares should be bought back and that the Guilty should bare the brunt of the public anger and frustrations etc (within reason).
Sash.
2007-10-15 19:36:44 · answer #7 · answered by sashtou 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Punishment should always fit the crime! i hate how people get off with like two years for raping a girl, and if someone was there and saw it happen and didn't do anything, they deserve punishment too.
2007-10-15 09:36:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
how can the punishment fit the crime when the crime changes depending on the person committing it?taking a car:in the hood its grand theft auto.in the suburbs its joyriding.
2007-10-15 09:40:51 · answer #9 · answered by omegasupremebmf 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Punishment should fit the crime - full stop!
2007-10-15 09:36:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋