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Re:A Billionaire and a Nurse Shouldn't Pay the Same Fine for... by Someone on Friday March 16, 2018 @04:04AM (#16599276)
”I just don't see how going 14 mph with zero other damage is equivalent to compensating the public $67k”

This isn’t about compensating the public (is the criminal justice system ever?)

AFAIK, there traditionally are three arguments for punishment: revenge, prevention of repetition, and punishment. This, I think is about the latter two.

Re:A Billionaire and a Nurse Shouldn't Pay the Same Fine for... by perpetualpatzer on Friday March 16, 2018 @10:33AM (#16600908)
Your third argument for punishment is "punishment"? Did you mean something else there?

I think the US criminal justice system frequently does make an effort to compensate victims where doing so is straightforward and a necessary part of "unwinding" the crime. For example, someone convicted of wire fraud typically forfeits their ill-gotten gains and where possible, those funds typically go to the victims.

There is a broader concept of criminal restitution, though you're right, more frequently, making amends to victims happens on the civil side.

Re:A Billionaire and a Nurse Shouldn't Pay the Same Fine for... by paulddraper on Friday March 16, 2018 @12:21PM (#16601670)
This isn't a criminal case though; it's a civil one.

Civil law is focused on restitution.