Should the punishment fit the crime?
Posted by: anna
28th Aug 2011 09:14pm
With callous, spineless murdering, maiming of adults & children what would your punishment be to the perpetrator?
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Comments 33
truck
I believe in a country like Australia we are toooo linient towards those persons that commit crimes of any nature. Hard labour, no previlidges e.g television, degree studying, no payment for working. Should the perpetrator be of a foreign nationality, I believe they should be deported to the country of origin and placed in their jail system.
Bigfoot
These people who harm, maim and/or kill other people deserve much harsher sentences than they currently get. I believe that we should also get rid of the parole system. A judge or magistrate gives you a sentence, that is what you will do. It is no good saying that you have found God or have turned over a new leaf. Do the time and then show that you are a better person. Who said "We have got enough room in our prisons?" Get rid of the swimming pool and other extraneous stuff, they are there to serve a sentence and not be mollycoddled. Do I know what I am talking about? you betcha as I have a stepdaughter who is now in prison for the second time.
skydancer12
Last nights news (channel 7 AT 6,00 PM) told the story of dear "Charlotte". Just three (3) days short of her 'FIRST' BIRTHDAY; darling Charlotte DIED! She didn't die of some mysterious illness or disease, NO, she died because of head trauma (most probably) caused by those she should have been able to rely upon to have kept her safe!
The Coroner today ruled 'Charlotte' died from severe head trauma, OH, AND BY THE WAY, she was found to have had a broken arm and there was bruising on her poor body! So far no formal charges have been laid because Charlotte' Mother and her boyfriend' both deny any wrong-doing, but Charlotte didn't break her own arm, she didn't cause her own head injury. Surely to goodness someone heard Charlotte' screams, someone saw the unexplained bruising; someone saw or knew something. HOW THE HELL CAN THEY SLEEP AT NIGHT?
SOME-ONE has to pay for this child's murder!
THE PERPETRATOR DESERVES THE SAME PAIN AND SUFFERING INFLICTED ON THEM; NOT A CUSHY JAIL CELL, THREE WHOLESOME MEALS A DAY, TELEVISION, ACCESS TO A LIBRARY AND A MERE FEW YEARS BEHIND BARS.
NO,, THE PERPETRATOR OF THIS HEINOUS CRIME DESERVES TO EITHER SWING BY THE NECK OR TO HAVE NO CHANCE OF WALKING OUR STREETS EVER AGAIN!
Don't blame the police, they too feel our anger and our frustrations but are bound by some of toughest rules and regulations!
Blame the perpetrator, blame our weak bloody legislators, blame the soft justice system and blame the bloody lawyers who spin 'sob stories' of their clients deprived, misguided childhood, their unfortunate drug addled brain, their alcoholism, or a myriad of other pathetic excuses! And for GOD'S SAKE, WHEN YOU READ THIS HUG YOUR CHILD/REN AND JUST HOPE AND PRAY THEY WILL REMAIN SAFE!!
Mustang17
For the worst crimes, Life should be Life as you have taken another's life away. We should also adopt what the Americans have, 3 strikes and you go to jail no more excuses and no brilliant lawyer to get you off. Because so many of these criminals have reoffended and commited more than 1 crime in their life.
mysteron347
Yet we have the professional social consciences in society that claim existing 3-strikes legislation is "unfair" and "counterproductive" and of course "prejudiced." Strangely, they never appear to be able to suggest an appropriate way to deal with such offenders - other than the mindless "education."
If they've not been educated by the third time they've been CAUGHT doing whatever-it-is, what's a course going to do?
Anonymous
the death penalty if you murder or rape someone your vialating their basic rites as a human being
Anonymous
With any crime that is committed especially against children, seniors or innocent victims. An assessment needs to made to the state of mind of the perpetrator. If they are a callous individual who have a high chance or re offending. They should be treated more harshly than an individual who was caught up in circumstances beyond their control. The legal process does not always get it right as far as punishing the guilty. This goes for the Police investigations and the lawyers who strike deals on the sentence. But I believe in DO the Crime , Do the Time.
chookybo
The judges are far too soft. Suspended sentences should be looked at very carefully. They should not be given out because someone is a lawyer and knows the "tricks of the trade", so can thus get off with a "slap on the wrist" and a bit of a fine for hit and run and killing the poor victim. If someone does hit and run then a mandatory jail sentence should be given to them and if they kill the person then it should be upgraded to manslaughter and they serve a longer time. To run just because they have been drinkng and probably drunk is a cowardly move.
Also, I cannot understand how a judge can let a person off when that person shot someone in the eye with a unregistered pistol that did not belong to him, just because he believed that person was spying on him when the poor person was just delivering ?milk or ?papers (can't remember). Why was that person not charged with grievious bodily harm and use of an unregistered pistol? Just because his parents are rich "somebodies" should not count!
People who break into houses and rape, bash or murder should be put away for life without parol, especially if they have a previous conviction.
Tempest25
I agree with the majority of what has been said. Life should mean Life - not 21 years, with parole after 10, and if you knock a couple more off for good behaviour then you can get out after 7 years for murder. I think you should chick the book a people who commit violent crimes.
malc
In our Western democracy we are overall soft on criminals . Murder is a great example. For the offender, why kill one, when you get get another one or two for free ! Seeing we don't have life as being life for real then perhaps murder should be a finite sentence of 20 to 30 years . If the offender has killed more than one person then that sentence should be cummulative. Add them all on to each other . Otherwise the extra life's he/she has taken is not punished , the offence is devalued .
Or perhaps we should ( won't happen) get back to the death penalty for absolutely proven cases. Why pay all this money to keep them in jail ?
Steve49
Two things, if someone tries to deliberately run down a pedestrian or run another vehicle off the road they should be charged with attempted murder and any deliberate damage to public or private property caused by a vandal should be paid for by the vandal even if it takes them the rest of their lives. That's my 2 bob's worth.
Jid
Depends on what caused the crime to happen, i think if a person suffers from a mental disability then its not fair just to lock them up. Im talking about such things as schizophrenia eg eg, these kind of murders can be prevented , but our culture seems to only seem to deal with things after they happen , not before they occur. I think as a bi-product of a materialistic society you must expect some heinous crimes to occur as jelousy , envy , lust, depression or a warped outsider mentality can all cause crimes to happen, but is it the fault of the perpetrator? As its our society that raised molded and shaped this individual into a criminal? Sure lock them up, but there needs to seriously be some sort of readjustment in our society in terms of helping these people psychologically instead of just locking them up in a cage , and putting them on medication.
DeNiro
This is one area in which I agree with Muslims. In their culture the victim/victim's family have the right to decide the punishment because it is they who were innocently violated and had their lives turned upside down through the selfish actions of another. There are those who want revenge and those who do not. It should be their choice because this would help enormously with healing.
mustang6000
I have to agree with the majority of comments. Prisons are just a motel room with all services and facilities laid on. Serious crimes require hard sentences, I believed that these should be served on a rural property in the outback where they have the opportunity to learn new skills and respect for people, nature and themselves.
Also, with property/theft crimes etc, convicted criminals should have their assets seized to compensate victims. If not sufficient, any present and future earnings should be garnisheed till the debt is repaid. This should also apply to juvenile offenders.
bugsy
I have witnessed a violent and serious crime where the victim was shot 8 times thankfully the victim survived. I testified at the offenders trial he was found guilty and got less than 4years in prison. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE especially when the offender has a extensive criminal history has already served 10years in another state for murder,plus another previous conviction for grevious bodily harm where he stab a female from front to back with a machette when she was pregnant with his child, no prison time for this offence only a suspended sentence.whilst the offender has been serving his time for the shooting he has constantly harrassed and tormented me and my family from his p[rison cell i report it to the police "nothing they can do" im told. how he gets away with all these things is beyond me. prisioners convicted of serious crimes shouldnt be permitted any phone calls and only non contact visits and the courts need to get tougher i think life should be life end of story.
anna
An eye for an eye, seems the only way to deal with this offender! When persons are given a sentence, they should be deprived of all that is comfortable, ie, phone calls, tv, have very little other than basics. Sadly we will never see this as it seems there is a chip on the shoulder & the world owes them. a good flogging never hurt anybody!
Poppy.
Hmmmmm. Well spoken and I cannot agree more with what you say.
jem55
Absolutely,offenders are getting off with a slap on the wrist.There should be zero tolerance for offenders. You do the crime,then you should do time.I think if a life is taken then the perp should be jailed for live,none of this getting out early for good behaviour.If they were good they wouldn't have gone to jail in the first place.
simla
Hi anna, are you not taking into account those cases that have been proven wrongly accused?
What of them?
anna
That is a hard ask being a juror, good on you! The sentences do not fit the crime! I feel for those who are the victims! I wish the government would take this seriously & investigate what is the best they can do for the victims, then work out whether we need hanging brought back in!
Poppy.
I agree with you completely. The court system is a very sad state of affairs. I have sat as a Juror on several cases and when you see the sentences that are handed out to the criminals it makes you want to cry.
Poppy.
There is far too much serious crime on our streets today. The court system is far too lenient, some people just get a slap on the wrist or a suspended sentence. Really serious crime such as murder, rape, home invasion and crimes against children just to mention a few crimes. These crimes should be given a longer sentence if they are committed. I believe that LIFE SHOULD MEAN LIFE with no parole, not a few years where the criminals are released to re-offend.
PGS
If 100% certain (caught in the act, etc) life sentence should be hanging. It's far cheaper than keeping them locked up for years. Ivan Millat is a great example.
Migaloo
Also truck drivers , that's an even bigger weapon on the roads , tail gating is dangerous as they can not pull a semi up in a hurry either .
Liz
I agree....the sentences are too lenient and not much of a deterent.
anna
Totally agree with you! Sadly we see so many let go to re offend, the system needs to be more severe as the loss of a family member is devastating to say the least!
Car drivers also must realise they are in charge of a weapon!
19chris51
If you can do the crime, then you Do the time; nThat is my motto
Anonymous
if you are prepared to commit a crime you should be ready to pay a high price.In the case of a murderer a member of the victims family would be able to kill them as a form of payback.
Gerry1945
Criminals get 10 years then can get out in 6, they know they can kill someone and get 1/2 the sentence. Our Judicial system needs a Royal Inquiry as it is now on the criminals side most of the time. Stab someone 40 times and get 30 years, shoot or kill someone 8 years or in a drugged drunk car accident and get 3 years. Totally unfair system. Killing anyone life in prison. Because at the moment punishment is a joke.
Migaloo
That would only make you as bad as they have been , the courts should take care of that , there is always the worry they have the wrong one , so it has to be well proven before serious punishment can take place like in America , Singapore has very low crime so guess they are doing some thing right over there .
afn1960
I believe in "An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth" , if a family member is killed then the Family has a right to take the murderer's life
skydancer12
Of course it would depend upon the crime committed and whether 100% proof of the crime was ascertained!!
Does anyone else remember 'Danial Valerio"; A little boy (a baby really) savagely tortured and beaten to death by his 'Mother's' defacto?
In the case of those who murder children and the list of innocent babies/children who have suffered at the hands of those they should trust to care for them is extensive, and those who are elderly and feeble-then I firmly believe the perpetrator should forfeit their right to live.
Soon after the murder of 'Danial' PM Whitlam cried and swore that no other child would suffer such horrific treatment as that poor child; WELL there have been far too many babies/children that have also been 'human punching bags' for adults and similar atrocities committed to their poor bodies, those who have suffered broken bones, head trauma etc:
It's time we made a pact as caring citizens to report people who mistreat their children- no longer should we turn a blind eye to the suspicious and recurrent bruising, the screams neighbours hear, of a child being abused, the mysterious 'falls', the recurrent broken arms/legs etc:
FOR GOD'S SAKE DON'T LET ANOTHER CHILD DIE!! REPORT YOUR SUSPICIONS!! OUR BABIES/CHILDREN NEED YOUR HELP. !!! NOW!!
I don't believe the victim' families should be the ones to meter out the punishment but I do believe in THE DEATH PENALTY for those who perpetrate the most heinous of crimes against babies/children, the elderly, the mentally challenged etc:
The 'DO GOODERS' say the death penalty isn't a deterrent but it removes one more evil and vile person from being among us!
Danial' murderer is now out of prison (on parole), why "IN GODS NAME" should he be entitled to live a life he so viciously stole from Danial'?
We're constantly told of Prisoners rights but the victims can't speak for themselves so WE have to speak "loudly and clearly for them"!
Let the Government' of the day pass legislation re-instating the maximum sentence to these "heinous monsters", if we can't have the death sentence reinstated then make a life sentence just that A LIFE SENTENCE- the term of their life- no remission, no time off for good behaviour, DEFINITELY no parole; in the past five(5) years, their have been thirteen (13) murders ny vicious criminals whom the justice systen have granted parole to.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! IT'S TIME TO PROTECT THE INNOCENTS AND TO PUNISH THE GUILTY!!!
simla
Hi adams, have you considered the consequences if the supposed murderer is NOT the murderer?
Once he's dead, you have the case of his family hunting YOU down; and so it could end in feuds going on and on like they used to before we had a justice system.
True there are miscarriages of justice, but it's better than a lawless society.
Best we try to improve society so there is less neediness, which is, as i see it, a real generator of crime.
A study of murderers showed that abused children (boys in this case) from orphanages in Australia in 1940's-1950's comprised a huge % of inmates serving time for violent crimes (rape and murder) something like 80 %. These boys had been sexually abused, and bashed,repeatedly over a number of years. Of course they were mentally damaged, irreparably some would say.
What should be the fate of these lost souls?