Reply #8: Your question presumes we are happy with the justice system as it is [View All]

[Az]

I have severe problems with the current justice system. It is primarily a vengence system. It really doesn't serve the society much more beyond housing criminals and satisfying the purient interest for vengence.

That being said a society does have the right to defend itself from those that would prey upon it. Holding criminals safely away from the population is appropriate. Once a criminal is safely incarcerated they no longer pose a threat thus killing them is beyond any reasonable argument.

Ideally justice should seek to incarcerate individuals until such a time as it can be ascertained that they have been rehabilitated. The notion of specific lengths of time for specific crimes has no real merrit other than trying to set an impartial standard. But it severes the ties to the needs of the individuals.

In the past such distinctions were beyond our abilities. Our understanding of human nature and the mind have increased and we are much more able to work towards such a system of justice.

This being said if it is determined that an individual cannot be rehabilitated then the threat they represent to society gives that society to right to continue to defend itself from their threat by continued incarceration.