Question

Classical criminology placed great emphasis on punishment being a deterrent to criminal behavior. Is that the belief of the criminal justice system? Do we punish known offenders to deter them or society from wanting to commit crime? Or is there another purpose for punishment? Beccaria and Bentham indicated the need for a balance between pleasure and pain. Why not make all crimes punishable by death? Would that not be the ultimate deterrent? (Answer in about 300 words)

Answer 1

Eye for eye, tooth for tooth was the earlier criminology’s aim which has drastically changed in its intensity of punishing crimes but it still insists on punishments for crimes. When civilization progressed and more humanistic approaches emerged, societies thought of criminal justice system considered prisons as a place to get themselves transformed and prison officers started treating the prisoners in a human way not harshly attacking them both verbally and physically. Today the Criminal Justice believes that people make mistakes in a hurry and regret and repent for it. So, Criminal Justice system should give them an opportunity to turn them around.

It’s important that we know the crime trend and frequent offenders but deterring them from the society might deprive them of their privileges to live in the society as a free human being. Instead, every time someone involves in the crime the punishment could be incremental rather than punishing them in the same for the same crime. This would make the regular offenders think of changing themselves or they would end up in a bigger punishment from which they won’t be able to come back.

Human beings are not Gods but a bundle of emotions and when they are overwhelmed by emotions and ignorance they may commit mistakes. Besides, the society is maintaining the class and power structure that put some people under trouble. So, if we start killing everyone for crime no will remain in the world because we are all human beings and we all will commit mistakes. When Jesus asked if someone hasn’t committed any mistake, one can throw the stone at the woman who was considered as a sinner, everyone went away. So, it’s apparent that only human beings can alter their way of living by altering their attitude thus leaving the door open for even a criminal to come back from their old lives and live a decent life.

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