Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Pleading For The Abolishment Of Criminal Law

tbrierly · 12-02-2006, 05:36 PM

Punishment such as incarceration serves at least four purposes:

1. Retributive. The idea here is subject the person to an unpleasant experience, with the idea that in the future they will refrain from illegal activity for fear of being subjected to that unpleasant experience again. I have no idea how often this works, but I suspect it does work sometimes.

2. Preventative. The criminal is kept "off the streets" and thus prevented from being a threat to society.

3. Rehabilitative. This unfortunately happens far less often than it might, but there are a small number of criminals who find resources such as religious or 12 step groups, etc. which help them reform.

4. Justice. This is primarily for the benefit of the victims. Many of them will find it comforting and helpful to know that the perpetrator of the crime is undergoing a unpleasant experience and/or is locked up and prevented from perpetrating more crimes.

Punishment has a number of uses and while our current methods may not be ideal, until we come up with much more effective ways of modifying behaviour and have a society which is able to stomach them, it is probably the best we have.

12-02-2006, 05:36 PM	#9
tbrierly Join Date: Aug 2004	Re: Pleading For The Abolishment Of Criminal Law - THS style Punishment such as incarceration serves at least four purposes: 1. Retributive. The idea here is subject the person to an unpleasant experience, with the idea that in the future they will refrain from illegal activity for fear of being subjected to that unpleasant experience again. I have no idea how often this works, but I suspect it does work sometimes. 2. Preventative. The criminal is kept "off the streets" and thus prevented from being a threat to society. 3. Rehabilitative. This unfortunately happens far less often than it might, but there are a small number of criminals who find resources such as religious or 12 step groups, etc. which help them reform. 4. Justice. This is primarily for the benefit of the victims. Many of them will find it comforting and helpful to know that the perpetrator of the crime is undergoing a unpleasant experience and/or is locked up and prevented from perpetrating more crimes. Punishment has a number of uses and while our current methods may not be ideal, until we come up with much more effective ways of modifying behaviour and have a society which is able to stomach them, it is probably the best we have.