Quote:
Originally Posted by patsylimerick
I agree with almost all of the post, apart from the bit in bold. I think there are individuals who are irredeemable and it's a gross error to assume that EVERYONE is 'fixable'. They're not. What happens if we keep trying to fix them and, every time we think the job's done, they go out and kill someone else? A civilised society SHOULDN'T take risks with the safety of the general public because of liberal intentions - however good those intentions may be. We cannot know for certain either way in relation to this boy and it's a matter for psychiatric experts to decide. Particularly in relation to children, we're probably a long way from satisfactory methods of assessment; the Jamie Bolger case seems to indicate this.
|
While it is probably a mistake to assume everyone is 'fixable', shouldn't a civilised society do its best to at least try to rehabilitate children who commit crimes.
Incidentally you mentioned Jamie Bulger, couple of things, first the US criminal justice system is different from ours regarding rehabilitation.
Second there were two criminals involved in the Bulger case, while Venables was sent back to prison for child porn offences Robert Thompson appears to have been rehabilitated, at least so far.
Could i just suggest you also go look at the case of Mary Bell, so 2 out of 3 successes would you say?