Do you believe in rehabilitative justice or would you prefer an eye for an eye?
439054
The first step should always focus on rehab. Just desert does not work, it only breeds further bitterness...especially in our youthful offenders. In order for our society to improve, we have to try to fix out issues not lock them away. As humans, we all have the ability to change with the exception of sociopaths. Rehad gives us all a chance to improve upon our spirits and show compassion for our fellow man. Don't get me wrong. I am not for slapping someone on the wrist and letting them off. Punishment is important as well. But, without the rehab part, we are releasing the punished offender back on the streets without any new direction to go in. Punishment for the sake of punishment does no one any good.
13373
The no-BS answer?  In all likelihood they don't really care all that much. The general attitude of most people towards criminals is that if they find prison life a bit harsh or brutal, well they earned it didn't they?  Following on that thought is likely a "Maybe he'll think twice about landing in jail a second time." And that's just the general public, not the folks who are forced to work with murderers and rapists on the one hand, up to petty thieves and drunken idiots on the other. \n\nWhile our society likes to talk about prison as aiming at rehabilitation, for most it is seen as punishment first and foremost.  Think of all the "dropping the soap" humor.  Not too much sympathy for the incarcerated there.  Harsh treatment at the hands of one's fellow prisoners is hardly going to greatly concern many working in the penal system who deal with the dregs of humanity on a daily basis unless it rises to the level of an emergency room visit or two.  \n\nIf you want there to be action taken on your son's behalf, you are going to have to make it more worthwhile for them to intervene than it is for them  to let it slide.  That probably means getting a private attorney, the ACLU, an elected official, or the media involved.  A mother's phone call probably doesn't register highly on their "things to worry about" list given the other challenges involved with managing a population that includes society's baddest of the bad apples.
860034
Hopefully for life. People like that belong in forced rehab for a long, long time, not out on the roads.
834398
I would for me.... but that's not the point of Capital punishment.... Retribution and justice  are the point. Any determent is just a plus. And one thing is absolutely sure.... the person upon which Capital Punishment is carried out *never* commits a crime again. It is the only punishment with a zero recidivism
1056538
I believe in the law of retribution.  I've lived to see that what goes around comes around and what you sow, sooner or later you'll reap.  Sure, a lot of people have unfair things happen to them and it's not their fault.  But there's a kind of justice and equity in the universe too.  Many times people get exactly what they deserve, but we don't always have the satisfaction of knowing it.  For instance someone who's done you wrong will eventually have it done to them by someone else, but you won't know so you keep on thinking that they got away scott free.
951589
If you rejoice in the pain and death of a murderer, how are you any different?\n\nIf it is revenge that people crave, life in prison in obscurity would be much worse.
620757
The tug and pull can be summed up as the theoretical and the reality.  For the first, I would want us to rehabilitate people, make them into productive members of society - that maximizes social good.  Reality is, that aint gonna happen for some people, and many come out worse than they went in.  Theoretically, putting someone in prison for life is more expensive.  Reality, a death row appeal ends up costing more dollars b/c of the expense to the taxpayer on the legal system.  Theoretically, we should tell people that killing is wrong, and teaching that lesson by doing the same.  Reality is, people commit crimes not with fear of the level of punishment, but by balancing the likelihood of getting caught.\nReality - society doesn't care, and most people dont care what ridiculously high percentage of people get railroaded by the justice system.\nBut I will say this from my personal opinion, I am tired of caring for people that want to whine about how their punishment isnt fair.  People make choices, and if you step outside the bounds society lays out, they shouldn't be surprrised that they don't like how society reacts.
444118
There are 4 sometimes competing theories:\n1. Retribution -- if you mess up you deserve to be punished. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. This theory is supported by the metaphysical idea that when a crime is not punished for -- it somehow continues to exist.\n2. Deterrence -- We will punish a criminal so that others will see that their actions have consequences -- and will hopefully stop behaving in a bad way.\n3. Rehabilitation -- if a person commits a crime -- he is probably a messed up individual -- so we should punish him in such a way as to make him a better person\n4. Isolation -- by putting a person who has committed a crime in jail -- we physically prevent him from committing any further crime.\n\nIt is worth noticing that The Deterrence and Rehabilitation theories -- look forward to improving society, Retribution is looking to the past only, and Isolation is really just a stop-gap measure.
191826
I agree with that one 100% because while you are looking down at someone for their faults, you have your own and someone else could be doing the same to you. and you should help people out especially if you are able to help in the situation that needs helping, whether its a physical or and emotional obstacle you should always be there to help a hand, or even a ear.
684953
these are all stupid ideas & are proven not to work. 3 strikes law only insures the judicial system is bogged with cases better served by fines. death penalty is no deterant; crackheads still kill for a hit, husbands & wives still kill of jelousy & insurance scams, bent minds are still preditors & kids still enact the rapsong in pursuit of their 'rep'. same thing with life. rehab is useless as those who are criminal remain criminal & those who are marginally criminal are better served in society & working, feeding the economy & paying heavy fines & restitution. more prisons means more taxes & a worse human product upon release. halfways can be lucrative but are the same as rehab. i spent 3 years in prison for a pot charge. no violent history, no victims, ect. the idea that society is victimized is absurd. the same rational could be said relating tbhhe number of traffic deaths to exceeding the speed limit. there are various levels of offense. murfer isnt necessarilly the worst if its accidental or inpersonal. the mind is the key & is subject to its environment. a mind thats compylsively violent, locked away, labor, suicide missions, ....not much for them. nonviolent crimes are best taken by case & usually are better served as revenue (fines & restitution). too long of an answer emil me if you want more of my input.
59039
It depends on the judge or jury. I would be willing to bet you would be looking at life or the death penalty.
759165
No. I don't think so. I am right with God. I am a jerk and we both know it. And I fight it. I believe in Jesus and he forgives me my sin. \n\nBut I do not look forward to the disability or pain affiliated with aging and death.
1018757
Wow, that's a deep question, but with failing eyes of my own due to diabetes, I have thought about it and concluded that I would rather have my hearing than my eyesight.  Because after all, if God is willing, I will always remember what I have "seen" in this world, but without my hearing, I might not hear an intruder coming towards me, or following me, or the birds chirping, or a child crying, a river stream, or rainfall..... Yep, I can always remember what I have seen, but I want to "always be able to hear them"...........hope this helps, and good luck to you.
177911
I don't know but you may want to look at Foucault since he proposed a lot of changes about how we think about and treat criminals.  It may be a start.
192827
Jesus and God are One in the same, in different forms... In the Old Testament, God taught us what Justice is -- an eye for an eye is justice, let the punishment fit the crime... God came to earth in the flesh of a man to teach us about the Mercy He is willing to show a repentant heart. Turning the other cheek is merciful, where as justice would be to slap the offender back. Justice is not wrong, it is right but mercy is better than justice. Grace, is us getting good things we do not deserve because God shows mercy through the sacrifice of Jesus.
999930
I wouldn't change a thing.  I've worked hard in earning my degree in my field and I love the job that I am doing with Oklahoma Dept of Rehab Services, Visual services division, working with blind, low vision, and diabetic persons.  It's exactly what I went to school for and was trained for.  I love it.
145266
If everyone took the bible literally this world would be quite an unpleasant place to be lol.  The phrase "an eye for an eye" has been misinterpreted...if someone gouged your eye out do you really want that person to give you their gouged eye? lol...i hope not lol it just means you have to substitute the loss with some kind of compensation hehe and then feel really bad for gouging someone's eye out in the first place =P