26.Creative Justice
26. Creative Justice
Content ■Cultural Background Warm-up Activity ■Outline Analysis and Explanation Exercises
Content ◼ Cultural Background ◼ Warm-up Activity ◼ Outline ◼ Analysis and Explanation ◼ Exercises
Text Is jail the right place for all offenders?Are there other punishments for criminal behavior that suit the interests of society? Judges in many countries seem to think so and are bringing into existence new and better ways ofpunishing some kinds of crime. 1.Throwing criminals in jail is an ancient and widespread method of punishment,but is it a wise one?It does seem reasonable to keep wrongdoers in a place where they find fewer opportunities to hurt innocent people,and where they might discover that crime doesn't pay.The system has long been considered fair and sound by those who want to see the guilty punished and society protected.Yet the value of this form of justice is now being questioned by the very men who have to apply it:the judges.The reason,they say,is that prison doesn't do anyone any good
Text Is jail the right place for all offenders? Are there other punishments for criminal behavior that suit the interests of society? Judges in many countries seem to think so and are bringing into existence new and better ways of punishing some kinds of crime. 1. Throwing criminals in jail is an ancient and widespread method of punishment, but is it a wise one? It does seem reasonable to keep wrongdoers in a place where they find fewer opportunities to hurt innocent people, and where they might discover that crime doesn’t pay. The system has long been considered fair and sound by those who want to see the guilty punished and society protected. Yet the value of this form of justice is now being questioned by the very men who have to apply it: the judges. The reason, they say, is that prison doesn’t do anyone any good
2. Does it really help society,or the victim,or the victim's family,to put in jail a man who,while drunk at the wheel of his car,has injured or killed another person?It would be more helpful to make the man pay for his victim's medical bills and compensate him for the bad experience,the loss of working time, and any other problems arising from the accident.If the victim is dead,in most cases his 1 family could use some financial assistance
2. Does it really help society, or the victim, or the victim’s family, to put in jail a man who, while drunk at the wheel of his car, has injured or killed another person? It would be more helpful to make the man pay for his victim’s medical bills and compensate him for the bad experience, the loss of working time, and any other problems arising from the accident. If the victim is dead, in most cases his family could use some financial assistance
3.The idea of compensation is far from new:some ancient nations had laws defining very precisely what should be paid for every offense and injury.In Babylon,around 2700 B.C.,a thief had to give back five times the goods he had stolen;in Rome, centuries later,thieves only paid double."Good system!"say modern judges,who know what bad effects a prison term can have on a nonviolent first offender.A young thief who spends time in jail receives there a thorough education in crime from his fellow prisoners.Willingly or not,he has to associate with tough criminals who will drag him into more serious offenses.more prison terms-a life of repeated wrongdoing that will leave a trail of victims and cost the community a great deal of money;for it is very expensive to put a man on trial and keep him in jail
3. The idea of compensation is far from new: some ancient nations had laws defining very precisely what should be paid for every offense and injury. In Babylon, around 2700 B. C. , a thief had to give back five times the goods he had stolen; in Rome, centuries later, thieves only paid double. “Good system! ”say modern judges, who know what bad effects a prison term can have on a nonviolent first offender. A young thief who spends time in jail receives there a thorough education in crime from his fellow prisoners. Willingly or not, he has to associate with tough criminals who will drag him into more serious offenses, more prison terms－a life of repeated wrongdoing that will leave a trail of victims and cost the community a great deal of money; for it is very expensive to put a man on trial and keep him in jail