Retaliation or rehabilitation for prisoners?

[Indorphinea]

Is retributive justice the way to go? 

Interesting fact: Norwegian prisons are some of the most humane in the world, and they have a reconviction rate of under 20%, compared to the US and EU average both at over 65%.

[Klopstock]

Oct 21, 2014 13:31:05 GMT -5 Indorphinea said:

Is retributive justice the way to go? 

Interesting fact: Norwegian prisons are some of the most humane in the world, and they have a reconviction rate of under 20%, compared to the US and EU average both at over 65%.

I believe in both retributivism and rehabilitation.

Norway's success is laudable; but Norway is not the US or the rest of the EU. Countries without Norway's homogeneity, social welfare system, and small population need to rely on deterrence and punishment more to address higher crime rates. Personally, I believe both approaches should be used: prison and the police reduce crime while pointing prisoners to a better path reduces recidivism and many of the underlying causes of crime.

[Anime Daisuki]

I kind of agree with what Klop said.

I'm a Buddhist, I don't believe in absolute evil or absolute goodness. The difference lies in just one split second of our thought process. In other words, environmental factors matter, for it affects our thinking. Things like Education also matter, for it instill in us the capacity to tell right from wrong. Most prisoners can turn into good citizens if provided with the right kind of help.

At the same time, we also know from science that there is such a thing as a "crime gene"-- that there are people who are born with neurological defects or brain structures that increases their propensity to commit crime. Therefore we have the terms "psychopaths", "ego-maniacs", etc. For these people, I think no amount of rehabilitation is going to help.

[The Candy Lane]

A court system has to dispense justice, if it doesn't do that it serves no purpose. I think court systems should strive for rehabilitating convicts, without hampering or watering down justice. I don't know where the perfect balance can be found but I know it's not in Canada.

[Klopstock]

There's another aspect to this issue to consider. Rehabilitation (rightly) focuses on the criminal, the state, and society. Yet any justice system affects other interested parties and groups as well. This includes the victim of a crime, the victim's family and friends, and affected communities. These people and constituencies are the ones that normally seek retribitutive justice. Sating their demand is also a function of the justice system and has been for centuries -- the system must produce justice for the accused, the accusers, and any community.

I doubt any justice system could command wide respect without relying on some amount of retributivism. This needn't be harsh and need not exclude rehabilitation either.

[Invictus]

Oct 21, 2014 16:56:29 GMT -5 Klopstock said:

Oct 21, 2014 13:31:05 GMT -5 Indorphinea said:

Is retributive justice the way to go? 

Interesting fact: Norwegian prisons are some of the most humane in the world, and they have a reconviction rate of under 20%, compared to the US and EU average both at over 65%.

I believe in both retributivism and rehabilitation.

Norway's success is laudable; but Norway is not the US or the rest of the EU. Countries without Norway's homogeneity, social welfare system, and small population need to rely on deterrence and punishment more to address higher crime rates. Personally, I believe both approaches should be used: prison and the police reduce crime while pointing prisoners to a better path reduces recidivism and many of the underlying causes of crime.

Spot on. People fail to realize that Norway is quite different from the U.S. in terms of culture, history, and demographics. While less wealthy than the US, it's smaller and homogenous, which makes for a more successful social welfare system and reduced crime. This is why 'Scandinavian socialism' works better than socialism could ever work in the modern United States. The US is much more massive, diverse and extreme; there are gangs in major inner cities and the brutal Mexican drug cartels operating all across the border and beyond. The European justice systems would just never work in the US. I do agree however that some aspects to our justice system in the US are insane, like lengthy prison sentences for minor nonviolent/drug related charges. Its also a shame that many of these minor offenders are essentially blacklisted and outcast from society because of that being on their record. For these types of offenders, we should have a more rehabilitative and less punitive course of action.

[pazakistan]

I think it should depend on the crime, background of criminal (e.g. Bad home life, need money to feed family etc) and if they are a repeat offender. If they stole something and it's their first offence they should be rehabilitated. Howver if they have stolen things before they should be punished. Also murders, terriorsts ect should be punished (no exceptions)

[pazakistan]

Also young offender and mentaly challenged offender should get the same punishments as everyone. In canada young offenders can do more crimes with less consequences then the average joe. Same with mentaly challenged people in some countries. Everyone should get the same punishment for crimes unless they had a good reason for doing it (like stealing money to feed their kids) however even if they had a good reason they should still be punished. Just not as severely