Punishment

Punishment

        Punishment, in moderation and rationality, is an acceptable way of maintaining a strong sense of safety and order in today’s society. Many would say otherwise, arguing that sometimes innocent people are deemed guilty in a court of law, therefore taking an unjustified punishment. But, the problem doesn’t lie in the punishment. The problem arises from the legal system and how people are trialed. Before one can blame the punishment, he or she must find how and/or why the punishment is being administered. Some also say that punishment simply doesn’t work. This is wrong for a few reasons.

        On one hand, punishment can serve as a type of payback to a victim(s), and not necessarily in a vengeful way either. If a man robs a restaurant then gets caught, it is common for this man to be charged after paying for the initial damages/losses. This is where the phrase “Would you like to press charges?” comes into play. Of course this can’t always be applicable, especially with barbaric crimes such as murder. But for pettier crimes, this aspect can be very effective for both sides good and bad. Secondly, punishment may restrict unwarranted happiness in criminals and psychopaths. Unfortunately, some of the ugliest and lowest crimes are committed with pleasure or thrills. It doesn’t feel right for a rape victim’s assailant to be joyful after the act. Nor is it right for the victim to be unhappy and sorrowful. By punishing the criminal, this undeserved and unwarranted happiness may be properly distributed, and the victim may possibly have their joy back once again. Lastly, punishment is designed to not only right wrongs, but to prevent potential future crimes from happening. This is where the prison system, community services, and fines/fees prove effective. After committing a crime, the desired effect is to make sure the guilty not only feel guilty, but to make sure that he or she will never do it again. Again however, some will argue that many times, punishment doesn’t prevent future wrong-doings; it simply delays it. This is only really valid though in large criminal organizations and mobs, where roots run deep and the goals are the same for each individual. Besides that, the justice system proves very efficient in keeping criminals at bay, behind bars, or on probation if need be.