Restorative justice. Are you a believer ?

[Debbie]

"restorative justice
noun
a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large."



If someone commits a serious crime such as assault, wanton destruction of property, burglary do you think that they should go to prison or try a bit of restorative justice and give them a chance to redeem themselves and perhaps get their lives back on track and become a decent, contributing citizen?



Three strikes on their record and they serve a prison sentence or home detention, community work, monetary reparation and facing their victims (Face-to-face meetings between victim and perpetrator) and accepting the consequences for their behaviour and crimes?

 

[Sweetsweatymango]

No rehabilitation. Jail terms for all offenders. All serious crimes should carry only one solution: the death penalty. Not this lethal injection bs either. Public hanging. Let the bastards suffer for the crimes they committed.

 

[magicalmoments]

No. Restitution yes.

 

[domroger]

Depends on the crime .
The current sentencing system needs a radical overhaul on both minimum and maximum sentences .
Rehabilitation should be stressed more rather than lock them up and throw away the key .

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

I would say incarcerate them and give them more educational and work opportunities to give them a chance to prove that they are decent, worthwhile, and willing members of society.

In fact, I would not give them a set sentence, but the mandate to meet some sort of criteria/benchmark before turning them back upon the mercy of society.

 

[water505]

I have no problem with rehab, but let's not forget the primary reasons criminals are incarcerated is punishment and removing them from society.

 

[Lancecastor]

Victims should stop their whining.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Victims should stop their whining.

Quite right. Stiff upper lip. Show the criminals that they had no effect on the lives of the survivors...

 

[Conager]

I would say incarcerate them and give them more educational and work opportunities to give them a chance to prove that they are decent, worthwhile, and willing members of society.

In fact, I would not give them a set sentence, but the mandate to meet some sort of criteria/benchmark before turning them back upon the mercy of society.

A given quantity of rock crushed?

 

[Radiohead]

No

I'm a believer when I can judge.

I dont trust any bastard, and thats before they set fire to the local mosque

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

A given quantity of rock crushed?

Simple things.

Learn to read; get educated.

Learn to stamp out a license plate.

Learn to not try and shiv your fellow inmates.

Stay the fuck out of the prison gangs and learn to exist without drugs...

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

No

I'm a believer when I can judge.

I dont trust any bastard, and thats before they set fire to the local mosque

So, there's a lot of that going on where you live?

 

[Lancecastor]

Quite right. Stiff upper lip. Show the criminals that they had no effect on the lives of the survivors...

So-called "victims rights" already exist....the State prosecutes the Citizen on behalf of the collective, which includes those directly affected.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Been there, done that.

One of my tasks with the state involved preparing conviction orders for convicts. Thirty years ago conviction orders tended to be larded up with activities the convict would never do. Usually due to work and time conflicts. So I created realistic and feasible orders.

But most convicts resist their conviction orders re-offending, missing appointments, refusing to pay fees, etc. Most of the time convicts sent to prison have multiple re-offenses before the judge tires of the resistance. I've seen convicts with 40-something arrests and no jail time.

I favor jail time and fines. Spouse battery should be 30 days and $1000 dollars, 60 days 2nd offense. Shoplifting 7 days, $100 fine. DUI 7 days, $500 fine.

 

[Radiohead]

So, there's a lot of that going on where you live?

Yeah, Kansas is a hotbed... or, after the fire department gets to it, a colder bed.

 

[dolf]

depends... do the statistics show that it is more effective at preventing reoffending? if so, with the right checks and balances, absolutely. if not, sod that.

prison costs tax payers a fortune, and reoffending causes huge harm and misery. i'm for finding the system that reduces the reoffending rates the most, whist still keeping costs reasonable, and applying it.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

KANSAS has never burned a mosque...



But you seem to imply that they are burning where you live.

 

[pete]

"restorative justice
noun
a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large."



If someone commits a serious crime such as assault, wanton destruction of property, burglary do you think that they should go to prison or try a bit of restorative justice and give them a chance to redeem themselves and perhaps get their lives back on track and become a decent, contributing citizen?



Three strikes on their record and they serve a prison sentence or home detention, community work, monetary reparation and facing their victims (Face-to-face meetings between victim and perpetrator) and accepting the consequences for their behaviour and crimes?

seems like a horrible idea, to me.

"hey miss jones, the guy broke into your apartment and stole your money, your tv, and your absolute sense of safety and security wants to drop by for a visit - cuz it'll be good for him"

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

And remember, he prefers soft drinks to tea or coffee...

 

[RobDownSouth]

No. Restitution yes.

This. ^^^^

I keep thinking of church "marital counseling services" who require the spouse of adulterous partners to "forgive" their partner first as a condition of counseling.

 

[colddiesel]

Been there, done that.



I favor jail time and fines. Spouse battery should be 30 days and $1000 dollars, 60 days 2nd offense. Shoplifting 7 days, $100 fine. DUI 7 days, $500 fine.

A lot of sense there. About 3-5% of criminals need locking up never ever to be released.

The rest should get short sentences, 7 to 90 days and be worked like dogs 12 hours a day. It doesn't have to be useful work. They can shift the same pile of rocks from A to B and back again a thousand times. No work no eat. The idea is to break their spirit - like the army breaks (and remakes a man or woman)

No appeals allowed on any sentence of 60 days or less. Cuts out Lawyers. And no visitors or phones.

The Japanese prison system is a bit like this, fairly short sharp sentences but an almost military regime, where everything is done at the double and every task is to a formula.

 

[Freudian_Slit]

Restorative justice. Are you a believer?

As a matter of course, but not per se. I believe justice begins with the societal recognition that a crime occurred, and ends with restitution. Restoration and rehabilitation follow justice.

 

[Queersetti]

"restorative justice
noun
a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large."



If someone commits a serious crime such as assault, wanton destruction of property, burglary do you think that they should go to prison or try a bit of restorative justice and give them a chance to redeem themselves and perhaps get their lives back on track and become a decent, contributing citizen?



Three strikes on their record and they serve a prison sentence or home detention, community work, monetary reparation and facing their victims (Face-to-face meetings between victim and perpetrator) and accepting the consequences for their behaviour and crimes?

Yes. Where it's been implemented, it has worked in lowering recidivism rates.

Of course, many people are more interested in punishing people than reducing crime.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

A lot of sense there. About 3-5% of criminals need locking up never ever to be released.

The rest should get short sentences, 7 to 90 days and be worked like dogs 12 hours a day. It doesn't have to be useful work. They can shift the same pile of rocks from A to B and back again a thousand times. No work no eat. The idea is to break their spirit - like the army breaks (and remakes a man or woman)

No appeals allowed on any sentence of 60 days or less. Cuts out Lawyers. And no visitors or phones.

The Japanese prison system is a bit like this, fairly short sharp sentences but an almost military regime, where everything is done at the double and every task is to a formula.

Prison is now rest & rehab for many convicts, homosexual rape is down bvecause lotsa willing females are hired to staff prisons, and they succumb to seduction. The warden looks the other way.

I know a few men on death row, all have been awaiting execution for 30 plus years. All were vicious sadistic killers. Yet they endure. Sadistic killers should die. But most can do okay with an inconvenient sentence and an umcomfortable fine ( for the common crimes where the injury is brief).

 

[HisArpy]

Restorative Justice doesn't work. In fact it makes things worse.

California has initiated a program to reduce overcrowding in our prisons. Non violent misdemeanor offenders get a ticket and appear in court just like for an infraction offense. Felons in prison have been transferred to local County jails where they earn early release credits faster than while in prison. So they get released sooner.

Crime in California is on the rise at an alarming rate since this program was created. Criminals have learned that they will not be punished for even violent crimes. Restitution orders are ignored and there is no possibility that the offender will be either put back behind bars or even brought before a judge for not paying it.

Meanwhile gun control laws are pushed through the legislature at the fastest pace known in California's history. They are even putting them into the budget.

Restorative Justice doesn't work. Unless what you want is civil unrest.