Another wonderful post, that strives to explore some of the deepest questions in criminal sciences. Your example regarding murder, I think, are quite useful.. but even within that category there is diversity - planned, passioned, self-defense. We also should consider other crimes and recognize that certain acts which were once criminalized are no longer seen as devious... and that new crimes have emerged with new technologies... and changing mores.
Perhaps one need to be less ambitious -- do certain kinds of deterrence work against certain kinds of acts for certain kinds of people--- but then we would find ourselves in a system too complex to administer.
While the idea that we punish the crime and that who the criminal is has less bearing on the consequence appears just/fair it may also be misguided. If people commit crimes for different reasons then it stands to reason that they would require different interventions to either be reformed or punished.
So true…I have years as a public safety professional…and this is as true as the proverbial noses on our faces…!!
Another wonderful post, that strives to explore some of the deepest questions in criminal sciences. Your example regarding murder, I think, are quite useful.. but even within that category there is diversity - planned, passioned, self-defense. We also should consider other crimes and recognize that certain acts which were once criminalized are no longer seen as devious... and that new crimes have emerged with new technologies... and changing mores.
Perhaps one need to be less ambitious -- do certain kinds of deterrence work against certain kinds of acts for certain kinds of people--- but then we would find ourselves in a system too complex to administer.
While the idea that we punish the crime and that who the criminal is has less bearing on the consequence appears just/fair it may also be misguided. If people commit crimes for different reasons then it stands to reason that they would require different interventions to either be reformed or punished.