[Niall]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I agree with this totally. Unfortunately our 'justice' system is absolutely ridiculous and allows people such as the chinese woman who beat her baby to do a years worth of time...and then says her debt to society is paid...and she can go back to her normal life, have more kids to abuse...maybe get another year somewhere down the line...its just not right at all.

I would be all for life meaning life. And all serious crimes against kids getting life. But its just never going to happen. I know the sterilisation thing will never happen either though. But something really has got to be done about stuff like this. I mean, the guy who made a racist tweet...is likely to be in prison for longer than that woman is. How the **** is that fair?!

I honestly think that our justice system being too damn soft and inconsistent is the main reason so many offend in the first place. You can murder someone and be out in 5 years or so.

Yeah it is quite disgusting how lenient it's become. I mean if we could imprison people for life, and life meaning life in prison (not 25 years or some sh!t), then that would be ideal. There just isn't the space for it I suppose..

About the racist tweet thing: I think that was way over the top too. It could have been to set an example to others though not to be offensive like that online? I don't know really. It was ridiculous though. That was the one who was really offensive about the footballer, right?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Niall

Yeah it is quite disgusting how lenient it's become. I mean if we could imprison people for life, and life meaning life in prison (not 25 years or some sh!t), then that would be ideal. There just isn't the space for it I suppose..

But if we did imprison people for life...Im pretty sure there wouldnt be so many offenders in the first place. So the overcrowding would solve itself really...as less people would be committing serious crimes.

But yeah, there isnt the space to even try it...because of how **** the system has been so far

Originally Posted by Niall

About the racist tweet thing: I think that was way over the top too. It could have been to set an example to others though not to be offensive like that online? I don't know really. It was ridiculous though. That was the one who was really offensive about the footballer, right?

I didnt read the tweets myself, but yeah. It might have been to set an example...but even so. Someone purposely torturing a child, should get way harsher punishment than some idiot keyboard warrior thinking he was clever :S I dont personally think his sentence was too harsh really...but there should be some consistency. And I think in anyones eyes what this woman did is way worse than what that man did. And this should be reflected in the punishment.

[Niall]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

But if we did imprison people for life...Im pretty sure there wouldnt be so many offenders in the first place. So the overcrowding would solve itself really...as less people would be committing serious crimes.

But yeah, there isnt the space to even try it...because of how **** the system has been so far

I never thought of it that way before. I suppose that makes sense. But like you said, the prisons are already fit to burst so we can't try it now.

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I didnt read the tweets myself, but yeah. It might have been to set an example...but even so. Someone purposely torturing a child, should get way harsher punishment than some idiot keyboard warrior thinking he was clever :S

Hmm I think its quite worrying really. Jailing someone for being verbally offensive? He was exercising his right to free speech I think. I would've just fined him.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

But if we did imprison people for life...Im pretty sure there wouldnt be so many offenders in the first place. So the overcrowding would solve itself really...as less people would be committing serious crimes.

But yeah, there isnt the space to even try it...because of how **** the system has been so far

Is there really gonna be that significant a difference between the effectiveness of the deterrent for a prison sentence that lasts 25 years and one that lasts 50 (assuming after the time they're probably pretty close to death)? And if the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent why would other tougher punishments be any more of one?

I think if someone is in the frame of mind to kill another person, than whether the punishment is 25 years, 50 years, or death, it won't have that big an impact on their decision

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Is there really gonna be that significant a difference between the effectiveness of the deterrent for a prison sentence that lasts 25 years and one that lasts 50 (assuming after the time they're probably pretty close to death)? And if the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent why would other tougher punishments be any more of one?

Well a 25 year sentence would generally result in someone being out in like 12. Say you killed someone at 20 year old, you would be out just in time to enjoy the prime of your life. Even doing the full sentence you would be out by 45....likely under a new identity and everything too (as only really high profile cases get sentences like that). Life meaning life would mean you never saw the real world again...I would imagine thats a pretty big deterrant...for younger people at least.

I would personally say that spending my life locked up is worse than the death penalty.