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I think that people who have had a terrible life usually fall into the low income and multi racial category. Not only are many of them born into bad neighborhoods but just living in terrible neighborhoods classified them as gangsters/bad people by the police and their nearby middle and upper class city neighbors. Usually it is hard to break from that cycle you're in if you're mentally 'told' you are less equal for most of your life. You cannot judge unless you walk the shoes of a criminal for every step of his childhood, adolescent and adult life. All the scrutinizing some kids face is terrible and inhumane yet they are not getting the help they need from their city and from their government to break the cycle for one reason or another. As horrible as it sounds: some people accept the insane plea to help their case because they are asking for forgiveness because their past has molded their brain into something they never intended to do themselves. To get life in prison is on the judge. he calls the shots here in America. But the reality is that the people who are in prison for a long time could have been helped before they ended up in their present situation. Which means that the amount of criminal cases would diminish and they would have ALSO BECOME WORKING CLASS AMERICA. Sometimes I think the government casts aside low income persons as sacrifices for the country since they are considered weak in their overall status. The system has to change someday. Lets say when the population increases. Or has it already? I hope things change so good people don't end up in jail.
One responder said this is a great statement and adds a lot to the discussion. I don't know what you are saying or trying to communicate. Two broad generalizations with imaginery tone say very little to me, so pray, tell what you are thinking.
certainly food for thought here. studies I have seen indicate that on average prison inmates DO come from more disadvantaged social backgrounds, and they also have lower intellectual capacity and higher levels of mental health issues than the average population. people from marginalised groups (eg certain racial/ethnic groups)are also over represented. maybe we should think about why that is.
I guess that popular opinion and myths reinforces the idea that the individual is to blame, which then encourages policy makers to put addressing problems into the too hard basket.
There's clearly a deeper issue here. However, you also can't absolve people of personal responsibiltiy because of their upbringing.
no you can't. but you also need to understand the how and why if you want the same people to choose different life paths. and you have to ensure that there are realistic opportunities as well.
For the most part, yeah. Sure lock them up. Try and rehabilitate them at the same time would be a good idea. Its not about 'deserving punishment'. Law should be able doing what brings about the most happiness. Capital punishment doesnt do that.
Maybe we should have fewer laws. And a system where income and social status doesn't determine level of justice.
Simple people have simple solutions to complex ideas and problems. As a result of having a simple fix to complex problems you get many more simple problems that can't be fixed. And each time you apply a more simple fix to a problem you get more problems. So if we are talking about the USA, there should be simple solutions for complex issues. Becasue America is simple like that..
The correct term is CRUEL OR UNUSUAL punishment. Personally I do not consider hanging, shooting, drowning, overdose electric chair, etc to be either cruel or unusual some specific crimes.
There is nothing against severe punishment. That is legal. The only thing not allowed is cruel and unusual punishment.