Sunday, June 22, 2008
If you do the crime, you do the time
Tougher jail sentences for criminals don't work, especially for violent offenders. How many times have we heard that one, right? Especially here in Canada.
Well, George Will writes a piece that contradicts the standard response we tend to get from so-called experts regarding crime and punishment.
You mean, it might be possible that putting violent criminals behind bars actually works? Wow.
Frankly, I've always thought that the issue was somewhat secondary. As far as I'm concerned, justice should be a primary consideration in the criminal justice system — despite what they teach at law school.
In other words, if you commit a crime, you should do the time — regardless of whether or not it deters you or others, even though I still think it does. At the very least, a criminal's opportunity to commit the crime again is zero as long as they stay in jail, right?
