This thread is not about the book by Fyodor Dostoevsky, but about crime and punishment. To sum things up: What punishment do you find suitable for what crime? Don't resort into spam, flames or name-calling (yes, that goes for you too Darth Tyranus), or I will be forced to smite you with my stick of spam-smitage +5. Also, please post more than "me too", or "i dunno", if that's all you're going to say you might aswell post somewhere else.
I believe in two ways of dealing with crime, in the first way you look at the offender as a victim of society or mental illness. The bankrobber was driven to robbing the bank because society did not properly educate him so that he could get an ordinary job. The serial-killer is mentally ill, and needs help. Currently we treat the symptom, not the disease. These people need help, and all we do is sweep them under the rug (put them in jail). So essentially, you stop locking people up, and find what's causing people to commit crime, whether it is mental illness or a flawed education system and do something about that.
The other way is inhuman draconian punishments for all offenses. Think middle ages: Cut the hands off the robber, castrate the rapist, burn the murderer at a stake. You get the picture. Even though some people would be innocent, the punishment isn't really as much a punishment, but a clear message to others not to commit crime. Punishments so inhuman that nobody, no matter how deranged would ever even think of committing a crime.
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