Should High-Risk Individuals Be Jailed Before Committing A Crime?

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Should high-risk individuals be jailed before committing a crime?

If we were to assume that one day in the future, advanced algorithms – or something entirely different – could predict crimes, would it be morally right to jail individuals long before they actually commit a crime?

Is it morally wrong to jail those suspected of being at high risk of committing criminal activity, if it protects society?

[New Judge]

"Should high-risk individuals be jailed before committing a crime?"

Absolutely not. We don't jail people in the UK for what they might do. It's the sort of thing you read about in oppressive regimes. I cannot see any "algorithms" or anything else being able to predict an individual's propensity to commit a crime. (The probation service uses them to predict the likelihood of reoffending when preparing pre-sentence reports for courts t assist in sentencing and in the main they are absolutely useless).

One of the easiest ways to assess an individual's propensity to commit crime is to look at their criminal record. That is as reliable as any other predictive method. So what do you do when somebody is sentenced for his third offence of burglary: "We know you'll probably do it again, so we'll lock you up for good".

Not a good idea at all.

[mikey4444]

NJ has it right here !

[Old_Geezer]

I concur.
Wasn't there a film showing the perils of gaoling folk in advance of what they are likely to do ?

[andy-hughes]

To adopt this approach is to assume that bad behaviour cannot be changed - that people are born to commit crime.

In my view that is nonsense, and has no place in a civilised society.

[Old_Geezer]

Three strikes and you're out, eh NJ ?

[Mamyalynne]

Minority Report?

Discussed here too.........

http://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/debate-predict-criminals/

[mikey4444]

Hazi....you have been very busy on your first day on AB !

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Thanks so far for all your responses. I agree with New Judge, but am fascinated to hear all opinions. I need to watch The Minority Report- thanks for the recommendations.

Yes, I love the idea of this website, a brilliant way to get a "thermometer" into opinions, ideas, and ultimately, answers!

[naomi24]

Morally wrong or not, I would jail terrorist sympathisers and all those on the watch list.

[New Judge]

To avoid any misunderstanding, I would go so far as to say that even if (a very big "if" in large capital letters) it was possible to predict with 100% accuracy that an individual was at a high risk of committing a crime I would not suggest he should be jailed. It's just not the way we do things here and I wold not like to see it.

Many people on here might see me as the Chairman of the "hang 'em and flog 'em"brigade. To a certain extent I am as I believe in robust sentencing for crimes committed (far more robust than most of those currently imposed). But I also believe in justice and it is not just to imprison somebody for what they might do.

[vulcan42]

The algorithms decides you will go to prison because you will commit a crime but you cannot commit the crime if you're in prison so the algorithm is wrong, catch 22.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - // Morally wrong or not, I would jail terrorist sympathisers and all those on the watch list. //

That's all very well, as long as Western society gets to do the jailing.

Let's not forget that the definition of a 'terrorist' depends whose gun barrel you are staring down.

[EDDIE51]

^ One man's terrorist is another man's 'Freedom fighter'
If Christ was starting his ministry today he would almost certainly be classed as a 'terrorist'.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes/Eddie, thank you, but I can do without the lectures and the philosophising . My post at 16:14 stands.

[EDDIE51]

naomi, your idea of jailing 'terrorist sympathisers' without trial was tried in Northern Ireland in 1970 and was a dismal failure, it just increased violence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Demetrius

[naomi24]

My post stands.

[jim360]

OK, we get it, your post stands despite all evidence that shows your idea is also a terrible one.

[naomi24]

Jim, we live in a different world now and we are dealing with something unlike anything we've ever encountered in the past, so yes, my post stands.

[jim360]

Show me a country where the Orwellian approach of locking people up for thought crimes ever worked, and I'll show you a tyrannical dictatorship.

But sure, your post still stands. I guess that "evidence-based policy" is one of those ideas that just sort of waved at you as it passed by...

[naomi24]

Jim, Nothing Orwellian about removing from society those who have demonstrated very clearly that they are our enemies and, given half a chance, would destroy us in an instant.