Introduction In this essay we will be reviewing five provisions of punishment in regards to criminal law. Each provision has a section to understand research and an ethical stance of the writer. The provisions are mandatory life terms for crime involving a weapon, electronic corporal punishment for violent crimes, five-year prison sentences for driving while intoxicated, public executions, and probation to be replaced by fines and incarceration. The stance of the essay is to respond as if the writer will vote for each provision to be added to criminal law.
Punishment
Before we review suggested methods of punishment, we must understand the concept of criminal punishment. What is the purpose of punishment? Punishment provided an approved method for law enforcement to police the people based on crime. This purpose has several underlying effects as well; deterrence, discipline, safety, and reinforcement of social and political norms. In some laws, the punishment is spelled out but others the punishment is deemed by the court (Lawyers.com, 2016). I believe the punishment should match the crime. Mandatory Life Terms The view to increase mandatory sentences to life without possibility of parole for crimes involving weapons must be reviewed based on the crime, logistics, and end result. A study by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) states 2,314,000 crimes are committed annual, on average, involving a weapon (Perkins, 2003). 532,220 of these individuals are under the age of eighteen (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1995). The average annual cost of a prisoner, according to VERA Institute for Justice, is $31,286. Many states are already over budget for prison operations and overcrowded (Henrichson & Delaney, 2012). What would be the benefit of extending sentences for these crimes? How could this be funded? When I’m subjected to a problem, I tend to focus on the solution behind the issue prior to developing a stance on the matter. I believe with the logistical and operational facts above; the extension is not valid though the crimes could result in more serious violations. Corporal Punishment What is corporal punishment? …show more content…
A dictionary describes this as physical punishment, such as flogging, inflicted on the body of one convicted of a crime (Dictionary.com, 2016). In this provision, the use of electrical shock is in question to be added to personal violent crimes. I do not believe electrical shock would result in the decrease of personal violent crimes, thus it is not an effective method to myself. As stated above, I believe the crime must match the punishment. Some countries in the world are not like this and are effective in controlling the actions of their population. In a popular historical incident involving an American and crimes in Singapore. The America was convicted of vandalizing personal property and was caned by Singapore police (The New York Times, 1994). Caning is an authorized form of corporal punishment utilized by the country for a sentence of over thirty crimes (blay442, 2009). Though I do not agree with the use of corporal punishment, there are positives to the use. It would solve over population and funding concerns in our prisons, discussed above. Five-Year Prison Sentences for DWI In the Commonwealth of Virginia there are over 200 fatal traffic accidents every year due to driving under the influence. Virginia’s law has four identified offenses for this crime, none carry a sentence of more than a year. Would the extension of the provision to five years deter the activity? I feel that Virginians are giving too many changes with weak penalties, thus displaying the crime is not important to the state. If the state does not have harsh penalties for the crime, how is the people to respect the law? One thing the state does that should remain is rehabilitation of the convicted. I think something that needs to be added is public speaking on the issue by those convicted …show more content…
Each provision has a section to understand research and an ethical stance of the writer. The provisions are mandatory life terms for crime involving a weapon, electronic corporal punishment for violent crimes, five-year prison sentences for driving while intoxicated, public executions, and probation to be replaced by fines and incarceration. The stance of the essay is to respond as if the writer will vote for each provision to be added to criminal law. Each provision above has examples for the ethical choice supported by the writer. Many of the provisions pose a greater problem to the court system besides the ethical decisions to conduct said
Punishment
Before we review suggested methods of punishment, we must understand the concept of criminal punishment. What is the purpose of punishment? Punishment provided an approved method for law enforcement to police the people based on crime. This purpose has several underlying effects as well; deterrence, discipline, safety, and reinforcement of social and political norms. In some laws, the punishment is spelled out but others the punishment is deemed by the court (Lawyers.com, 2016). I believe the punishment should match the crime. Mandatory Life Terms The view to increase mandatory sentences to life without possibility of parole for crimes involving weapons must be reviewed based on the crime, logistics, and end result. A study by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) states 2,314,000 crimes are committed annual, on average, involving a weapon (Perkins, 2003). 532,220 of these individuals are under the age of eighteen (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1995). The average annual cost of a prisoner, according to VERA Institute for Justice, is $31,286. Many states are already over budget for prison operations and overcrowded (Henrichson & Delaney, 2012). What would be the benefit of extending sentences for these crimes? How could this be funded? When I’m subjected to a problem, I tend to focus on the solution behind the issue prior to developing a stance on the matter. I believe with the logistical and operational facts above; the extension is not valid though the crimes could result in more serious violations. Corporal Punishment What is corporal punishment? …show more content…
A dictionary describes this as physical punishment, such as flogging, inflicted on the body of one convicted of a crime (Dictionary.com, 2016). In this provision, the use of electrical shock is in question to be added to personal violent crimes. I do not believe electrical shock would result in the decrease of personal violent crimes, thus it is not an effective method to myself. As stated above, I believe the crime must match the punishment. Some countries in the world are not like this and are effective in controlling the actions of their population. In a popular historical incident involving an American and crimes in Singapore. The America was convicted of vandalizing personal property and was caned by Singapore police (The New York Times, 1994). Caning is an authorized form of corporal punishment utilized by the country for a sentence of over thirty crimes (blay442, 2009). Though I do not agree with the use of corporal punishment, there are positives to the use. It would solve over population and funding concerns in our prisons, discussed above. Five-Year Prison Sentences for DWI In the Commonwealth of Virginia there are over 200 fatal traffic accidents every year due to driving under the influence. Virginia’s law has four identified offenses for this crime, none carry a sentence of more than a year. Would the extension of the provision to five years deter the activity? I feel that Virginians are giving too many changes with weak penalties, thus displaying the crime is not important to the state. If the state does not have harsh penalties for the crime, how is the people to respect the law? One thing the state does that should remain is rehabilitation of the convicted. I think something that needs to be added is public speaking on the issue by those convicted …show more content…
Each provision has a section to understand research and an ethical stance of the writer. The provisions are mandatory life terms for crime involving a weapon, electronic corporal punishment for violent crimes, five-year prison sentences for driving while intoxicated, public executions, and probation to be replaced by fines and incarceration. The stance of the essay is to respond as if the writer will vote for each provision to be added to criminal law. Each provision above has examples for the ethical choice supported by the writer. Many of the provisions pose a greater problem to the court system besides the ethical decisions to conduct said