New Zealand like much of the world has a growing crime rate, and I hear regularly over radio talkback that there is a need to tackle the crime rate. Added to this there seems to be a lack of sensible sentencing by the courts. Indeed just recently a jury made a not guilty verdict for three guys who had admitted vandalizing a satellite listening facility. The right or wrong of the facility is not really within the jurisdiction of that court.
Anyway, in last weeks Arusha Times a theif was convicted to 1 years imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane.
We have softened our stance on crime for perhaps politically correct reasons and so-called rights of individuals. A question where this attitude comes from and one answer is 'Christian charity' - most of our laws have been created through the Christian ethic and the reality these days is the majority of the population are not practicing Christians. This is not to say at all there is anything against Christianity but I wonder why the the law ethic spreads over all. Yes you have to have one law for all.
I think the constraint that the law of the land has is there are not enough options as far as punishment goes.
First thing is the cost of 'caring' for the lawbreakers. Second is the fact that there are not enough beds in the prisons so lighter or even no sentence is the option.
So for some crimes a good caning might just fit the bill. Say for drunken driving (together with a loss of licence of course).
Some white collar crime should not be prison sentences but working the crime off somehow using the skill the person has.
Maybe this is a cost, I don't know, but these sorts of things could be managed by say retirees and payment may be just a tax break because people (some) do like having things to do.
Just a thought.
Anyway, in last weeks Arusha Times a theif was convicted to 1 years imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane.
We have softened our stance on crime for perhaps politically correct reasons and so-called rights of individuals. A question where this attitude comes from and one answer is 'Christian charity' - most of our laws have been created through the Christian ethic and the reality these days is the majority of the population are not practicing Christians. This is not to say at all there is anything against Christianity but I wonder why the the law ethic spreads over all. Yes you have to have one law for all.
I think the constraint that the law of the land has is there are not enough options as far as punishment goes.
First thing is the cost of 'caring' for the lawbreakers. Second is the fact that there are not enough beds in the prisons so lighter or even no sentence is the option.
So for some crimes a good caning might just fit the bill. Say for drunken driving (together with a loss of licence of course).
Some white collar crime should not be prison sentences but working the crime off somehow using the skill the person has.
Maybe this is a cost, I don't know, but these sorts of things could be managed by say retirees and payment may be just a tax break because people (some) do like having things to do.
Just a thought.
