An Overview of the Evolution of Society’s Views on Crime and Punishment
Society has always viewed punishment as the best way of deterring criminal activities and punishing offenders. Traditional societies used to excommunicate or stone to death individuals who committed crimes. Children were punished through canning or other minor punishments (Sudbury, 2014). Society believes that errand members should be incarcerated in correctional facilities, imprisoned for life, or sentenced to death depending on the severity of their crimes. Punishments are meted on individuals depending on the severity of their crimes.
The Need for Crime and Punishment
Crime is important in society because it helps people to understand the need to have laws that will govern their interactions. Punishment for criminal activities promotes respect for laws and ensures people live peacefully. Individuals who commit crimes are sentenced to serve different jail terms depending on the severity of their criminal activities (Sudbury, 2014). Society believes that people cannot commit crimes without having the intention of doing so. Therefore, they know what they are doing, and this means that they deserve to be punished. The type of punishment given to offenders depends on society’s perception of the severity of the offense. A person who abuses an underage child will suffer more serious consequences than the one who commits the crime on an adult. Defilement and rape are classified according to the ages of the victims involved, and that is why their punishments are different (Roberts and Hough, 2013). Society dictates how and when criminals should be punished, and that is what sets the sentences for criminal activities.
Emphasis on Punishment and Rehabilitation
Punishment and rehabilitation are considered the appropriate ways of punishing and correcting individuals who break laws. Society has a significant influence on what people should do. The traditions and culture of the society are formed based on the values of its people. Activities that are perceived to go against the expectations of society are branded crimes and anybody who commits them is punished. The practices of a member of society affect other people (Sudbury, 2014). The habits of members of society should not go beyond the limits set by its people. This means that human behavior has strict limits beyond which they are considered criminal and unacceptable. Rehabilitation and punishment are supposed to correct bad behaviors and give criminals opportunities to live with other members of society.
The Shift in sentencing Policies
Today, there are institutions responsible for maintaining law and order and punishing offenders. Some procedures must be followed before suspects are proven guilty. Criminals have rights that should be respected by the state and the public. Society believes that people commit crimes because they are forced to do so by forces beyond their control (Sudbury, 2014). Society has a responsibility of helping disgruntled members to cope with their situations and work their way out of the problems that make their lives unbearable. Society believes that correctional facilities are supposed to train people to obey the law and become responsible in society. However, those criminals who have no prospects of transforming or have committed serious crimes do not have a second chance of going back to society. They are imprisoned for life or sent to the gallows depending on the severity of their crimes.
References
Roberts, J. V. and Hough, M. (2013). Public Attitudes to Punishment: The Context’. Changing Attitudes to Punishment: Public Opinion, Crime and Justice, 1-14.
Sudbury, J. (2014). Global Lockdown: Race, Gender, and the Prison-Industrial Complex. London: Routledge.