Do you think the punishment system in the U.S. works?

You have discussed something which is really needed in these days, im an indian and i dont know much about U.S punishment system but to be frank i dont like the Indian law which sometimes takes too long to punish the criminal ,even when the proof is clear cut ( this happens for 5 /100 )

I think it only serves as a deterrant for those who wouldn't commit a crime anyway. There is nothing more dangerous than a person who has nothing to lose. There is nothing he values and nothing he is afraid of. Someone sent me an article about a prison in Arizona that was pretty interesting. For the most part, the way that prison is run would be a big deterrant for those committing petty crimes. They really don't play. They brought back the chain gang. They don't have airconditioned buildings, they have tents outdoors, they are made to wear pink prison garb, they only get baloney for all meals. When they complain about the heat, they are reminded that we have soldiers in Iraq who are in hotter tempuratures than they are and have to wear full military garb and carry equipment. No sympathy. They do not have work out facilities and libraries and choices in cable stations. They do have cable because its mandated by the govt. but it only gets one channe.

My only answer is that I have accepted the fact that crime iteslf has become an institutionalised industry in the USA... where there is money to be made, and careers to be built and so on and so on, the victims and the perpetrators are simply the "grist " that help the factory wheels keep on turning. The moment that I realized this fact some 25 years ago, this stuff no longer bothered me so much... I was in Law Enforcement at the time. What a joke of a job choice that was. There were more crooks in uniform and suits than people realize. Sorry that I can't make you feel better about this, but this is really a good discussion for everyone who lives anywhere on the Planet... Here's Red Ice Creations for your educational enjoyment. Keep up the good work! :) http://www.redicecreations.com

I believe that when someone is locked up for a serious crime, they should work at some kind of hard labour from sunup to sun down. That way they are so tired by bedtime that they cannot cause any trouble in the prison! I also believe it should be something constructive that would help support the prison such as gardening or making their own clothes etc. If there is someway that they can make something and sell it on the open market without competing with a local market and hurting the local economy, they should do that too and the money should go toward their victims. I believe they should enter prison with no privileges and that they should have to earn each one that they do get. If they break a rule they should loose all privileges and have to start over. The first privilege the should receive is an opportunity at further education, so that when they do get out they stand a better chance of staying out. People that commit "white collar crimes" should be punished too. Some of the crimes they commit hurt people as bad or worse than other criminals. They literally take away a persons "life" when they steal their life savings even if it is through internet crime etc. Shalom~Adoniah

I think that the system we have is aweful. It puts u into a category that u dont always get to choose and you cant ever get out of it. If you steal, they fine u and put u in jail. When u get out, you have no job and you are in serious debt, not to mention the fact that all employers and landlords get to see ur record, so you have no money, owe tons of money, have no legal way of getting money and no place to live. So what do u do now? You steal again. They throw u in the lions den. It's barbarious. We need to help these people change their ways. Instead, we create criminals, punish them and give them no other option, but to continue to do these things.

I say they should make their sentances mush harsher.But I think THey are'nt scared of getting in prison When their doing the crime But then when their in their they wish they had never thought of doing it.

Well, I don't think it's working too well. If it was, there wouldn't be so many reoffenders. I agree with the majority of the other posters, make prison a real punishment. I'm talking chain gangs, or picking vegetables, digging ditches, something like that. Maybe then, people wouldn't have more than one offense. Who knows, it's complicated.

Being a person that doesn't live in your country, try living in my country and you would think that your country is just doing the best compared to where I lived. In here justice is just too slow to move especially when you don;t have the money to make them move. I think you are one of the best police force comapred to other countries. Well of course you have a big country to managed that is why in your perception your police force isn't enough to stop crime. Well for now be happy you're there and you're not where I am.

I don't have any stories or solutions but had to come and tell you how much that bothers me as well. It's obvious that the system doesn't work. It doesn't work for many reasons, some of them as incredible - one would think - as justice is certainly not the same for everyone - it gets more lenient when your wallet is full. It's like this all over the world, of course, because the truth is that money is appreciated everywhere. I'm here wondering how can I ever pay my kids university while we have convicts taking courses and coming out with a degree. One that recently became a lawyer comes to mind. Maybe I should just suggest that my kids embark in a life of crime if they want to have an university degree? I can't afford paying the fee for a gym, I just saw one in a prison in a documentary in tv - top of the line too! WIth a punishment like that why would I want stop my life of crime? THe punishment is not fitting the crime for the most time, and prison is not deterrent for crime. That should be a hint for the people in charge of the penal system. We're just being sucked up in rights for this and for that and " I know he/she killed 65u people, but she/he is still a person..." Huh..... I'm sorry you commit such a crime you loose your rights. Of course there the reverse of the medal and that's why it is so tricky. Those in power sometimes abuse it... Complicated, but in need of a real solution for sure.

I think our justice system is all out of whack! Criminals are going free. People who have committed some minor offense are going to jail! A few years back we had 2 hunting dogs that we always kept penned up. They would manage to get out now and then. One time they did and killed a cat. They were good dogs, were not mean, but it was just the nature of that type of dog to not like cats. I love cats too, but I surely would not put the pet owner through what we had to go through. My husband had to go to court. He had to pay a hefty fine, was put on probation, and was told that if the dogs got out again within the next year that he would go to jail! Now how ridiculous was that? Thats how crazy ouor justice system is!

I have spent a lot of time thinking about the penal system, just by being critical in nature, and I'm convinced there is no system of punishment that will ever make me happy. There is no blanket sentencing policy that will work, and the power we give judges and policemen to appropriately dole out punishment is often misused. So now I focus my thinking on preventing crime altogether. There will always be crime (and likewise there will always be an imperfect system in place to "correct" it), but there can be considerably LESS crime. Programs like the Boys and Girls club, YMCAs, anything that keeps kids off the street where they will be exposed to gangs and easy money through crime. Designated driver programs. Neighborhood watches. And so on... I hope that doesn't seem like a cop-out response!