7 - Crime and Punishment

• Aims

  • Retribution - Making a person pay for what they have done
  • Protection - To protect society and the weak against those who threaten them
  • Deterrence - Discourage others from committing a crime
  • Reform - Change the criminal so that they don't commit crimes again
• Christianity Aims

  • Justice - Offenders should pay for their crimes as it is fair
  • Deterrence - Punishment should put people off from doing the same actions
  • No Retribution - Christians don't agree with retribution. They highlight the need for forgiveness
  • Reform - Reforming the offender is the most important as is it what Jesus did when a woman had been caught in adultery
• Islam Aims

  • Justice - The Qur'an teaches the right thing must be don
  • Deterrence - In some Muslim countries, there is a public punishment to deter people
  • No Retribution - Muslims don't agree with retribution as Allah will punish them in the afterlife
  • Reform - Muslims hope offenders will repent, reform and seek forgiveness from Allah and their victims