Do all criminals deserve to be reformed?

[New Rothera]

I know there is a lot of dispute over whether the focus of prison should be reform or retribution, and I generally support reformative methods, as those seem to be more effective in reducing recidivism than more punitive ones (eg. Norwegian prisons vs US prisons)

But I have often thought, when hearing/reading about horrific murders and/or acts of cruelty to children or animals: do the people who commit these types of crimes actually deserve to be reformed? Should society even bother spending precious resources trying to give every murderer, rapist or paedophile a second chance at life, when there is no certainty that it will work (some people are just sociopaths, after all) and those resources could be used to improve the lives of the innocent? Why, then, do we not simply execute all the most violent and abhorrent criminals with a bullet to the head, or force them to perform hard labour for the rest of their lives? Society doesn't benefit from keeping these people around, so why not?

What do you think? Am I right, or just over-reacting?

[Galloism]

“Deserve to be reformed?”

Wrong question. Do we as a society deserve to incur the costs of them not being reformed?

[Imperial Fascist States]

I know there is a lot of dispute over whether the focus of prison should be reform or retribution, and I generally support reformative methods, as those seem to be more effective in reducing recidivism than more punitive ones (eg. Norwegian prisons vs US prisons)

But I have often thought, when hearing/reading about horrific murders and/or acts of cruelty to children or animals: do the people who commit these types of crimes actually deserve to be reformed? Should society even bother spending precious resources trying to give every murderer, rapist or paedophile a second chance at life, when there is no certainty that it will work (some people are just sociopaths, after all) and those resources could be used to improve the lives of the innocent? Why, then, do we not simply execute all the most violent and abhorrent criminals with a bullet to the head, or force them to perform hard labour for the rest of their lives? Society doesn't benefit from keeping these people around, so why not?

What do you think? Am I right, or just over-reacting?

These violent dregs of humanity deserve nothing more than a quick death and an eternity in hell

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Deserve? No. If they’re willing to be reformed (or aren’t clinically insane) then we should attempt to help them reform.

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I reject retribution altogether. In the case of an extremely dangerous person like a serial killer, it may be necessary to permanently confine them, but this should only serve the purpose of keeping society safe and there should not be any deliberately inflicted suffering, there should be nothing more done to them than what is necessary for security.

Norway's approach to prisons should be a model for the rest of the world.

[Dangine]

Most criminals deserved to be reformed, at least if they're not serving a life sentence. If you are going to let criminals out of prison they need to be reformed or else they will just commit the same crime again. However there are some criminals who can't be reformed and we have to acknowledge that.

[Vivolkha]

All criminals deserve an attempt to reform them, but some never will no matter how hard you try.

[Ifreann]

I don't think it matters what they deserve. We should always treat people justly and fairly.

[-Ocelot-]

Letting criminals like rapists "reform" is like announcing to all rapists out there that they can get away with it with a significantly lighter sentence.

Let's not do that.

[Kowani]

It’s less about deserving anything and more about benefiting society. We win when more people are rehabilitated.

[Ifreann]

Letting criminals like rapists "reform" is like announcing to all rapists out there that they can get away with it with a significantly lighter sentence.

Let's not do that.

Because then people who would otherwise not have committed rape will hear about rapists being rehabilitated and decide "Gosh, I wasn't going to before, but now I think I'll go rape someone".

[Cenomannos infecisse santo Insel]

Some criminals can be reformed but some can't. It depends on the type of person the criminal is for them to be reformed. I think a good way to reform them is a mix of telling them right from wrong and punishing them severely. If they do a terrible crime like murder or rape they should rot in prison or the death penalty.

[The Wasatch]

It would be ideal to reform all criminals. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be viable. We ought to make a solid attempt as a society to reform all criminals, but recognize that some people can not be helped.

[USS Monitor]

"Do they deserve to be reformed?" is the wrong question. If they can be reformed, they should.

The question is whether they can be reformed. Not everyone can.

[The Wasatch]

It’s less about deserving anything and more about benefiting society. We win when more people are rehabilitated.

Exactly. The more functioning members of society, the better. Most criminals are reformable.

[Sakkwato]

Petty criminals they can have rehabilitation, killers and rapists? Hell no, put them in jail for life and working to pay the incarceration. Where I live the criminal law is so soft it disgusts me, and I'm studying law so I speak with knowledge of cause.

[The Wasatch]

Petty criminals they can have rehabilitation, killers and rapists? Hell no, put them in jail for life and working to pay the incarceration. Where I live the criminal law is so soft it disgusts me, and I'm studying law so I speak with knowledge of cause.

Where do you live?

[Vivolkha]

"Do they deserve to be reformed?" is the wrong question. If they can be reformed, they should.

The question is whether they can be reformed. Not everyone can.

Agreed.

[The South Falls]

They should be reformed if they can be.

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Petty criminals they can have rehabilitation, killers and rapists? Hell no, put them in jail for life and working to pay the incarceration. Where I live the criminal law is so soft it disgusts me, and I'm studying law so I speak with knowledge of cause.

May I ask what country you live in? Because how credible your claim about the law being soft is dependent on the answer.

[Sakkwato]

Petty criminals they can have rehabilitation, killers and rapists? Hell no, put them in jail for life and working to pay the incarceration. Where I live the criminal law is so soft it disgusts me, and I'm studying law so I speak with knowledge of cause.

Where do you live?

Portugal

[Washington Resistance Army]

No.

[Vallermoore]

The worst of the worst deserve execution.

[Infected Mushroom]

Yes.

Even war criminals and genocidal killers. Everyone can be studied and understood and helped.

[Estanglia]

We should try.

If they can be reformed, they should be.