So are some criminals innocent?

Question

If some say that people commit crimes because of mental illness, bad upbringings, etc.; all reasons that are not the fault of the criminal. Then does that mean that some criminals are innocent? If humans are a governed by their DNA, and humans cannot control their DNA then why blame people for things that they are not in control of? So which is strong DNA and your rearing; or your free will? Is our fates layed out the moment we are born, and the formative years (ones that are shaped by our parents and surroundings) are finished and irrevesible when we are tots?

William:
"That is the droppings from the south end of a north bound cow!! "
Now that is a new one. Thumbs up.

Answer 1

For crying out loud!! That is the droppings from the south end of a north bound cow!! Not responsible because my environment made me do it, or it was in my DNA, what a cop out. They did it because they wanted to do it, and for no other reason!! See what evolution is leading us into?

Answer 2

Criminals are not innocent because of anything at all, except for not having done what they have been accused of.

One needs to separate the act from the actor in such a way that one recognizes the act as wrong, recognizes the actor as having been wrong in performing the act, but recognize that punishment (if there is any) must recognize the circumstances of the act.

For example, if two people are practicing fencing and one person mistakenly uses a foil intended for actual combat during which the other is killed, we can recognize that the person is guilty of having taken an innocent life. If that person is suitable repentent, then even though guilty of taking an innocent human life, there may be minimal even no punishment.

The same is true for th mentally ill. This preserves the notion that justice sift actions for relative guilt and blame while at the same time trying to engage in fairness.

Mercy is always to be applied after justice has had its day.

HTH

Charles

Answer 3

You seem to have spun a very concise question with not a lot of room for speculation. I believe a few things, that firstly we all have the capacity to kill. That in the right situation we would all murder somebody, more-so in a life threatening situation. That is just self preservation. And I do think that some things are beyond our control, things like sexuality are programmed genetically. I also think there was a huge move in the 90's glamorizing mental deficiencies and pretty much everything is now considered to be genetic.

Most of that could be the new psychology and the drug companies and purely profit. But I also believe that laws and the choice between right and wrong govern, for the most part, society. That we don't kill because we know it is wrong. And yes some don't have that connection in their brain. And yes in some cases they are not solely responsible for that thought process. It can be learned and taught. Many extremist beliefs are proof of that.

However crime is crime. We all live in a society where laws govern us and we all must abide by them. So they should be prosecuted. Should they be held responsible, I don't really know. If they cannot control their urge to murder than they do have to be kept out of society. If there is any help for them, again, I do not know.

Answer 4

Everyone in prison had a choice at some point. Some made ill informed choices for a variety of reasons. The most ironic thing is most prison inmates in American prisons are there on drug related charges. If they had done the same thing (use or sell recreational pharmaceuticals) a year to a century earlier (in 1908 there were no illegal drugs) they would not be in jail.
Before 1970 the congress had to decide whether a drug was dangerous or not and anyone could attend and testify at open hearings. After 1970 the FDA could decide any drug was abusable and make sale, possession or use a crime overnight with no oversight at all.
When anything that people might want is outlawed it creates a black market in that product or service.
Those people who supply that product or service become rich enough to be able to corrupt Law enforcement and government.
Those people who supply that product or service support the continued prohibition of those products or services so they can continue to make money from the uncontrolled sales. To that end they become the biggest supporters of Right Wing Law and order politicians who then can't prosecute them for fear of exposure of where their campaign funds came from.
The medical and pharmaceutical industries enter into this by developing and dispensing more kinds of abusable drugs which are eventually outlawed adding to black market, medical and pharmaceutical profits
HOW DO WE GET OFF THIS VICIOUS CYCLE?

Answer 5

There are extenuating circumstances to all crime. We as a society have a responsibility to determine whether those circumstances are great enough to warrant mercy.

In the end we must decide whether the person posed a threat to society or not. If they have good reason for being violent, because of incest or genetics, that doesn't change our responsibility to society to keep the rest of us safe.

The results and observable evidence of that person's behavior should be a clear indication of what they are capable of doing in the future. We have a duty to society to try and rehabilitate them, or take their freedom away for good, if rehabilitation is not an option.

Predestination vs Free will have little to do with it. It is the actual event and the likelyhood of repeat that should determine out actions.

Answer 6

If someone is insane and has no control of his mind, he also has no control of his actions. If he is judged insane at the time of sentencing he should be remanded to a state asylum until such a time as he regains his sanity. This is not giving them an excuse, just the facts. As far as the bad upbringing excuse, rule that one out. All of us had problems growing up. And yes, there are innocent people in prison.

Answer 7

Lots of criminals are innocent in my eyes. Not because of DNA, but because the laws are making them criminals. There are a lot of stupid laws out there.

Answer 8

It's not DNA, it's lead:

"It is stunning how strong the association is. Sixty-five to ninety percent or more of the substantial variation in violent crime in all these countries was explained by lead."

Answer 9

Before we judge others we need to walk a mile in their shoes. We need to know if we could get over whatever it was that made them the way that they are, whether that be a situation of nature or nurture. Maybe sometimes they don't have a choice.

Answer 10

There are actions that harm other people and are not acceptable in modern human society. These people we lock away or destroy to protect that society and the continuation and evolution thereof.