Posted by m1s1n (66.62.156.8) on November 06, 2002 at 11:15:26:
In Reply to: Re: Crime and Punishment posted by Bokeem on November 06, 2002 at 01:58:50:
Consider ancient laws where no matter who commits the crime the punishment will always be the same regardless of who you are. Let's say that the punishment for stealing returns to the choppy-choppy of one's hand. Now, let's say someone, we'll call her W. Ryder--no maybe that's too obvious--Winona R., okay, so she steals from some clothing store and they chop-block her hand. Do you think that people are going to be less likely to steal if they knew that regardless of mitigating circumstances they'd be held to the same punishment regardless? Remember that a punitive system needs to be constant, consistant, and swift in order to be effective as a punitive solution.