The Dark Shadow Shrine

embrace the darkness; that you may see the light nestled within it......

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Doubts over effectiveness of Khmer Rouge trials

Click HERE

Examples like this article or Hitler's killing of Jews deserve little or no sympathy for the perpetrators due to the severity of the crime committed....in cases like these, probably fairness and justice is not so much about reforming the criminal (coz they're beyond reform, these coldblooded murderers!) but about giving emotional closure to the victim (if still alive), or more importantly, closure for the loved ones of the victim. Something must have been seen to be done to the perpetrators for there to have been any sense of justice being delivered, and this 'something' cannot be just compassion but an act that is unpleasant or can cause suffering for the perpetrator. Criminals should not be seen to be able to get away scott free after the terrible things they have done. This is the notion behind the revenge theory of punishment.
Other than reform/rehabilitation and vengeance, consider also deterrence, education of public/social morality as rationale and objectives behind punishment and justice.

Qns:
1. To what extent should we show compassion to criminals?
2. 'The focus of the criminal justice system should be on reform'. What are your views? 
3. Too much attention is given to criminals; not enough to their victims. Is this true?
(Cam. 2005)