Do you believe the charges against criminals are too weak in America?

Yes and no. I think that for a lot of crimes, the rules are pretty well defined and overall pretty well enforced. But there are some big issues....

A) Statute of limitations- For some smaller crimes, like misdemeanors, this is fine because the benefit to society for possible prosecution is limited at best. But for crimes like rape, where we can now obtain and keep DNA evidence for years, the 5 year statute needs to go. I could understand in the past when it was an issue of the memories of the traumetizing event changing & now allowing sure prosecution, but nowadays, it doesn't seem right to had hard evidence against someone for such a horrible crime to let them get away after 5 years seems wrong.

B) More consistancy- Especially looking Deactiviation's post, you'll see some of the big consistancy issues with the USA legal system. I will make a case, first of all, that this isn't so much a sign of a bad legal system. It's just that the legal system on the United States is made up of so many districts, states, etc, where there are different mindsets of the judges, lawyers, and those being prosecuted. It's something that, while present in all countries, is exasterbated by the differences from each region.

But on the other hand (and the side I more focus on), there is a real problem with people focusing on side issues as a way to look at a case. Things like someone that burdered another person is a little young, or a little tired, or not focused, etc. that overall shouldn't really change how a ruling comes through. But that's what happens when your case is in front of your peers. Like George Carlin says in every group of people you have some winners and a whole lot of losers. Same thing that happens here, where you can get a judgement in your favor just by getting the right morons.

I don't know about America, but they sure are here in the UK.

*shakes fist* :evil:

I do beleive the justice system is waay to lineant. I mean, look at al those other countries with extremely harsh sentences. They generally have less crime.

hmmm....

Def_Jef88

I don't believe punishment accomplishes much.quiglythegreat

The justice system is way too lenient. People in the system are more worried about the rights of murderers than the rights of the families of the victims. If you murder someone, you should be put to death, period. And if you sell drugs, you should get a very high sentence as well. Rape should be a 25 year sentence. And repeat offenders get life. Thats what you call a criminal detterent.hillelslovak

Not every case is the same. What if a wife murders her husband who abuses her every night? Should she get the death penalty? You can't view every case black and white.

I think that we do need harsher laws and we should exercise the death penalty more. The trend I see is that for harsh punishments people are more hesitant to commit a crime. People respond better to harsher situations. If you tell a child not to drop his food on the floor and he does and you give him a time out, yes he knows what he did is wrong but is he afraid of dropping food on the floor? No, because a timeout isn't scary. if you spank him he will respond more to that. Sure, it may be little harsh, but I bet he'll think twice before dropping food on the floor. This is the same thing. I bet if these kids were getting 5 years in Juvenile Hall/Prison they would be much more hesitant to commit these crimes.Thyeora

Carry a gun and shoot some in the limbs next time. That'll teach them. And if you miss and hit the torso or head? Well, no one cares.hachiman128

Sorry.

I live in Canada.

Some guy was sentenced to around 5 years for running a family of ducks over. A child molester received 2 years.

It depends on the state and county. I think MOST of America does well with punishment but certain places are completely backwards.

[QUOTE="Thyeora"]I think that we do need harsher laws and we should exercise the death penalty more. The trend I see is that for harsh punishments people are more hesitant to commit a crime. People respond better to harsher situations. If you tell a child not to drop his food on the floor and he does and you give him a time out, yes he knows what he did is wrong but is he afraid of dropping food on the floor? No, because a timeout isn't scary. if you spank him he will respond more to that. Sure, it may be little harsh, but I bet he'll think twice before dropping food on the floor. This is the same thing. I bet if these kids were getting 5 years in Juvenile Hall/Prison they would be much more hesitant to commit these crimes.quiglythegreat

I don't mean that more crimes should constitute the DP I think there are certain situations. People who are mentally unstable and have/are likely to commit the crimes again should be subject to it. Charles Manson, for example, has spent more than half of his life in jail. It is obvious he is not going to get better. He should be on death row. The death penalty would scare people more than 25 to life and maybe motivate them a little bit to get better. Except for things like murderers and people who are constantly in and out of jail.

I think that we do need harsher laws and we should exercise the death penalty more. The trend I see is that for harsh punishments people are more hesitant to commit a crime. People respond better to harsher situations. If you tell a child not to drop his food on the floor and he does and you give him a time out, yes he knows what he did is wrong but is he afraid of dropping food on the floor? No, because a timeout isn't scary. if you spank him he will respond more to that. Sure, it may be little harsh, but I bet he'll think twice before dropping food on the floor. This is the same thing. I bet if these kids were getting 5 years in Juvenile Hall/Prison they would be much more hesitant to commit these crimes.Thyeora

Actually there is no evidence to suggest punishments have a deterrent effect (even the death penalty), the high incidence of repeat offenders prooves that much.

No, I think the sentencing is a bit skewed to some parts of society than others.

I would like to see White collar crimes prosecuted more effectively and harshly i.e. Enron and screwing their employees and embezzling.

On the other hand I would like to see every person in jail for drug possesion to be set free. The War on Drugs is costly, ineffective, and has already failed. We need to stop putting addicts in jail, let people have the freedom over their own bodies, and get rid of the black market that illegalizing drugs make.

[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"][QUOTE="Thyeora"]I think that we do need harsher laws and we should exercise the death penalty more. The trend I see is that for harsh punishments people are more hesitant to commit a crime. People respond better to harsher situations. If you tell a child not to drop his food on the floor and he does and you give him a time out, yes he knows what he did is wrong but is he afraid of dropping food on the floor? No, because a timeout isn't scary. if you spank him he will respond more to that. Sure, it may be little harsh, but I bet he'll think twice before dropping food on the floor. This is the same thing. I bet if these kids were getting 5 years in Juvenile Hall/Prison they would be much more hesitant to commit these crimes.Thyeora

I don't mean that more crimes should constitute the DP I think there are certain situations. People who are mentally unstable and have/are likely to commit the crimes again should be subject to it. Charles Manson, for example, has spent more than half of his life in jail. It is obvious he is not going to get better. He should be on death row. The death penalty would scare people more than 25 to life and maybe motivate them a little bit to get better. Except for things like murderers and people who are constantly in and out of jail.

Sorry, but there is no evidence to suggest the death penality scares anyone. Killing them doesn't work, so simply lock them up longer, this won't deter anyone, but it won't give them a chance to commit crimes either. Furthermore, crime techniques aren't 100%, if you lock someone up you can release them, if you kill an innocent person by mistake you can't undo that (and then, that would make you a murderer, who in turn deserves the death penalty...).

[QUOTE="Thyeora"]

[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"][QUOTE="Thyeora"]I think that we do need harsher laws and we should exercise the death penalty more. The trend I see is that for harsh punishments people are more hesitant to commit a crime. People respond better to harsher situations. If you tell a child not to drop his food on the floor and he does and you give him a time out, yes he knows what he did is wrong but is he afraid of dropping food on the floor? No, because a timeout isn't scary. if you spank him he will respond more to that. Sure, it may be little harsh, but I bet he'll think twice before dropping food on the floor. This is the same thing. I bet if these kids were getting 5 years in Juvenile Hall/Prison they would be much more hesitant to commit these crimes.Articuno76

I don't mean that more crimes should constitute the DP I think there are certain situations. People who are mentally unstable and have/are likely to commit the crimes again should be subject to it. Charles Manson, for example, has spent more than half of his life in jail. It is obvious he is not going to get better. He should be on death row. The death penalty would scare people more than 25 to life and maybe motivate them a little bit to get better. Except for things like murderers and people who are constantly in and out of jail.

Sorry, but there is no evidence to suggest the death penality scares anyone. Killing them doesn't work, so simply lock them up longer, this won't deter anyone, but it won't give them a chance to commit crimes either. Furthermore, crime techniques aren't 100%, if you lock someone up you can release them, if you kill an innocent person by mistake you can't undo that (and then, that would make you a murderer, who in turn deserves the death penalty...).

Well, I think a lot of it is also that they realize that you can be arrested 17 times between your 18th and 21st birthday, and spend less than 6 months in jail total, as stated in the article I posted.bobwill1

its really f ed up...really what's wrong with America anyway?????