coluka
Well-known member
It is a difficult sell. Whilst some victims are happy to meet perps, many are not and I for one would not either, having seen it happen on several occasions at first hand in the past, It can have a bigger detrimental impact on the victim on occasion.To be fair there were other offences outside the assaults. Not really relevant, as you say.
I would like to see a judicial system based on rehab, I mean serious rehab with victim meets, skills and education, both in the cost of their crime and to enable them to function on release.
It makes much more financial sense, but its an incredibly difficult sell to the electorate which is why our system is punative.
Rehab may work in some cases, it operates to some degree now on first time lower level offenders etc, I genuinely feel people have to feel they are being punished and victims see that they are, it is a justice system afterall. Being softer on crime provides no deterrent.
I do accept some of the social causes, education, poverty and work opportunities for example are at the heart of some criminals behaviours and there is no cheap or swift fix and any approach has to address a multitude of issues on the social, financial, prevention, rehab side as well as the punitive issues, as a starter for 10. Little will change though and the debate will always rankle on.