Crime & Punishment

[Janetex]

Too simplistic or not so silly? My daughter believes that criminals should remain incarcerated until the victim/s forgive them and sanction their release. Should the victim/s not be alive, then so be it. Most people believe in a 'next' life, therefore forgiveness and freedom have to wait until then.

[andy hughes]

It depends on your daughter's age. Children have a 'blakc and white' sense of right and wrong which lasts until adulthood, when they develop a perspective of other view points.

[FTVS]

okay I can her point however firstly I could see a lot of abuse for example let's say the "victim" could be bought off, or perhaps pressure applied to agree to release. Secondly, surely the victim has been through enough without the pressure of being responsible for someone's incarceration. Thirdly, the laws and sentencing of a country are supposed to apply to everybody equally and this would negate that.

[BadBob]

Somebody Murders the son of a devout christian whos morals are based on the bible which clearly states that we should forgive those who sin against us. Therefore they need not go to prison at all. Or some attacks you in the street and it ruins your life you dont feel safe and could never forgive that person they must stay in prison forever.

Maybe a better approach would be set sentances for crimes say 20 for murder with the option of 25% - 50% to be added at the victims consent so if the victim feels unable to forgive the they get 25 if they can they are out in 20.

[wildwood]

It is not a silly idea but, as has been said, it wouldn't work fairly. Some people, like me for instance, believe that anyone who invades the sanctity of someone's home with burglary can rot in jail for the rest of their life, which isn't fair ofcourse. I would however seriously support an alteration to this ridiculous 'ten years but out in 4 for good behaviour' lark. If someone gets 10 they should do that, and bad behaviour while incarcerated should attract additional time.

[number8]

Having just been the subject of a burglary, I think the b******s should have their hands cut off and left to rot in a smouldering cess pool of filth for the rest of their miserable lives. Also, the likes of the Tony Martins of the world should be applauded - he has saved us spending hundreds of thousands of pounds over the course of many years because the kid that burgled his house (his name has slipped my memory) would without a doubt have been in and out of jail throughout his miserable life. Good riddance. As far as I'm concerned, anybody who has the audacity to come into my property uninvited, particularly now that I have a young child, is fair game. It is about time the sentencing in this country recognised the fact that these utter b******s do not have a god given right to other peoples hard earned property.

[robmacg]

I'm sorry, I have to retort to a comment 'appluding' Tony Martin. Tony Martin shot dead a man, in cold blood, in his back as he tried to escape through a window. Why would any convicted murderer deserve acclaim? Having being a victim of a burglary in the last 6 months I wouldn't have felt the right to end the burglar's life with a shotgun. Argue for changes to legislation, but don't be obsene and argue that convicted murderers are worthy of anything but utter disgrace.