Crime and punishment

Warning - the following link contains details of an overseas case involving abuse of a child, leading to the death of the child. Such people are amongst us.

news.ninemsn.com.au/world/343669/mother-...e-pain-on-2-year-old

Very sad. There are no words to describe one's reaction to that case. This discussion is about crime and punishment. The case that George presents goes beyond crime, beyond punishment.

A crime is something that even the worst of criminals, at some point, realises is wrong in terms of how the community judges their actions. In some cases, the worst criminals attempt to "justify" their actions according to their own rules, their own "code", their own system of morality. Perhaps criminals justify their actions in order to ease their guilty consciences - and, yes, we could have a whole debate about what "guilt" means to people.

But while a lot of people try cheat their consciences, I truly believe that everyone has a sense of what's right and wrong that keeps them in check and stops them being a danger to others. If they didn't have that sense of right and wrong then they'd be a constant threat to everyone. For people who lack the awareness of right and wrong, why should we punish them? They wouldn't understand the need to be punished. Psychopaths need to be kept away from society while they are a danger to the community ... but not punished.

I don't know whether the people in this particular case are criminally responsible but, whether or not it's the most appropriate solution, that will be for the justice system to resolve.

Here's an article I found interesting, leading the reader through the considerations regarding sentencing in a child assault case. But, before reading, be warned - the case details in the article are somewhat confronting:

www.smh.com.au/opinion/public-bays-for-b...305-8pvp.html?page=3

That was an interesting story, George, about how the judges use pure arithmetic to the sentence someone who sexually molested a young girl. (???) One wonders if justice should only be dispensed on the basis of arithmetical formulae?

I listened to another story on the radio today which troubled me. Four young men threw petrol over an elderly man and set him alight. His injuries were, as you might imagine, critical ("fourth-degree burns" was mentioned). The accused were charged with arson and "conduct endangering life". One wonders why they weren't charged with attempted murder! Read the details here . There are some very sad types in this world, aren't there? These four, at least, won't be hurting anyone else for a long time - whether it's "enough" who can say?

I saw that case about those 4 boys when it first happened Sozz and couldnt believe it - that poor old man : (


I noticed this one today as well No jail for Canadian bus beheader tho he did get jail - just in a mental institution which I thought was gonna happen anyways

Pertaining to a graffiti crime, I feel that having the perpertrator fork out their own money to buy the removal equipment and to scrub their scribble off. That would probably take a lot longer to take it off than it would have been to put it all on.

Great suggestion, Helen. I think that it's always useful to consider reparation as a punishment, depending on the crime, of course. This drives home to the perpetrators the effect that they're behaviour has had on people, repairs the damage they have done with lower cost to the community at large and makes them less likely to commit a similar crime. It's actually proven to be more effective than other forms of punishment when appropriately and correctly implemented. The added bonus is that, where a perpetrator isn't a repeat offender, they avoid being drawn into the criminal culture, so there is less likelihood of recidivism.

Cheers
Mem

Charges against Richard Pratt withdrawn, on the basis of his ill-health

news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=806723

What do you think about this ? Has the right decision been made ?

Yep another Carlton Football Club shonky lol - but from what I hear, alot of people thought very highly of him.

He put in alot of money in the community and talk to anyone from Visy which he owned, he helped alot of people from a nobody to a somebody.. he had time for all..

Depends on how you look at it I suppose..

I think graffiti morons should be put in Jail or gaol.......... I have repainted my side fence and garage door far too many times........... If I catch them I will spray the paint down their throats which is in itself an act of violence but boy I have had enough....these brain dead imbeciles have no regard for anyones property......... and a trip in the train soon shows you that our cities are being turned into slums with this "art".....

I worked closely with a man, Trevor Amies........ 5 years later he is charged with Pedeophilia............not surprising to me..... there was always "something " about him.

I knew a woman who murdered her husband in my house.........he had come for a quiet talk and she burst in like a maniac.....drug induced bravado that resulted in death...... omg........ she died in gaol from aids.......... good riddance......but she thought she was justified as the husband wouldnt move out............ I could go on and on......but hey............ my sister is a Barrister......... she has stories to tell about the system.