Incarceration just adds to criminal mischief
Mark Green
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: Opinion
These influences and contacts led, or at least contributed strongly, to my friend becoming first a pain pill addict, then a pill dealer. He got locked up off and on as a juvenile and as an adult, and after one stint in prison he emerged as first a heroin addict, than a heroin dealer and finally as an overdose victim lying in a hospital bed. He recovered, cleaned up and straightened out, but many in his situation never do.
The alternative I would like to propose is that juvenile crimes should be punished by a public beating, and the perpetrators name and picture, as well as an explanation of the specifics of their crime, should be published online or in the local newspaper.
If this punishment seems cruel and unusual, I invite you to consider carefully the consequences of my plan. Rather than slaps on the wrists, incarceration and an express elevator to the life of a career criminal, offenders will be punished immediately and forcibly in a way that is not only humiliating, but also painful. Contrast if you will the impact of confinement with individuals who revere crime and rebellion, versus the humiliation and shame with being beaten in public. Imagine the looks of smug disdain on the faces in the crowd as they begin to cry at the force of the blows. Imagine knowing that every person who looks at you at your school, neighborhood, church and local supermarket knows in perfect detail your crime. Imagine feeling the throbbing pain from the beating with every step, and feeling it peak every time you sit down.
How many 12-year-olds stretching the muscles of their adolescent rebellions are likely to repeat their offense after suffering in such a way? How many impressionable youths are likely to be pressured into shoplifting, drunk driving and robbery when they know full well the immediate and drastic punishments that await them?
To those of you who will likely shout about the irrepairable damage beating a child has on their development, I would say two things. First, 10 whacks with a cane is not the same thing as a vicious beating; there is no malice or actual danger, simply the painful reminder that their actions are unacceptable. Secondly, refer back to my friend and the horrible twist his development underwent under our current system of juvenile justice. Compare the two and rethink your position.
Americans should not live in fear of and at the mercy of criminals. Firmly forcing our nations youth to dread the consequences of criminal actions is a critical first step in returning sanity and safety to our society.
The alternative I would like to propose is that juvenile crimes should be punished by a public beating, and the perpetrators name and picture, as well as an explanation of the specifics of their crime, should be published online or in the local newspaper.
If this punishment seems cruel and unusual, I invite you to consider carefully the consequences of my plan. Rather than slaps on the wrists, incarceration and an express elevator to the life of a career criminal, offenders will be punished immediately and forcibly in a way that is not only humiliating, but also painful. Contrast if you will the impact of confinement with individuals who revere crime and rebellion, versus the humiliation and shame with being beaten in public. Imagine the looks of smug disdain on the faces in the crowd as they begin to cry at the force of the blows. Imagine knowing that every person who looks at you at your school, neighborhood, church and local supermarket knows in perfect detail your crime. Imagine feeling the throbbing pain from the beating with every step, and feeling it peak every time you sit down.
How many 12-year-olds stretching the muscles of their adolescent rebellions are likely to repeat their offense after suffering in such a way? How many impressionable youths are likely to be pressured into shoplifting, drunk driving and robbery when they know full well the immediate and drastic punishments that await them?
To those of you who will likely shout about the irrepairable damage beating a child has on their development, I would say two things. First, 10 whacks with a cane is not the same thing as a vicious beating; there is no malice or actual danger, simply the painful reminder that their actions are unacceptable. Secondly, refer back to my friend and the horrible twist his development underwent under our current system of juvenile justice. Compare the two and rethink your position.
Americans should not live in fear of and at the mercy of criminals. Firmly forcing our nations youth to dread the consequences of criminal actions is a critical first step in returning sanity and safety to our society.
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