The Aims Of Punishment, Forgivness + The Treatment of Criminals Flashcards
What are the different aims of punishment?
1) Reformation - changing someone for the better
2) Retribution - taking revenge on a person for what they’ve done
3) Protection - shielding society from criminals
4) Deterrence - aiming to stop people wanting to do something
5) Reparation - making amends for doing something wrong
6) Vindication- punishments put in place to ensure that the law is respected
What is the aim of putting someone in prison?
1) Aims to rehabilitate criminals as well as protect society from them
2) Some people question the effectiveness of prison as a punishment
What would a Christian response be to prison?
1) Prisons should treat people well and help them reform
What would a Muslim response be to prison?
1) Prisons used whilst awaiting trials. Corporal punishment is mostly used under Shari’ah law
What is the aim of restorative justice?
1) Offenders are encouraged to think about their crime and the effect it’s had on their victim(s)
2) Meetings between criminal + victim(s) are held
What is the aim of corporal punishment?
Aims to punish someone by inflicting physical pain on them
What would a Christian response be to corporal punishment?
1) Disapprove of corporal punishment - not loving and may not encourage reform
2) Some Christians agree with it as a deterrent
What would a Muslim response be to the death penalty?
1) Compulsory for certain crimes in countries that follow Shari’ah law
2) Some Muslims feel harsh punishments are outdated
What is the aim of community service?
People are made to make amends to their local community for their crime (eg. vandals repair their vandalism)
What is the aim of forgiveness?
Letting go of bad feelings/grudges towards a person or a group of people who have hurt you
What would a Christian response be to forgiveness?
1) Forgive others as you wish to be forgiven
2) God is merciful (forgiving + compassionate)
3) Jesus died for the forgiveness of humanity’s sins
What would a Muslim response be to forgiveness?
1) Only God can forgive (+ only those who are truly sorry)
2) Humans should forgive those who ask for it
What is the aim of the death penalty?
To end someone’s life for committing serious crime(s)
Give some arguments for the death penalty.
1) OT talks of death penalty for crimes like murder
2) Retaliation for a serious crime
3) Shari’ah law supports the use of the death penalty for serious crimes
4) Some people deserve it
5) Justice for the families of victims
Give some arguments against the death penalty.
1) It’s inhumane
2) No chance of repent or remorse
3) Goes against the teaching of forgiveness
4) May accidentally kill an innocent person if the court gives a wrong conviction
5) It’s hypocritical to say that killing is wrong and then have someone put to death
6) Easy way out for a criminal
