Re:The Embarrassing Naked Photos On Your Stolen Laptop May N...
by ugh on Wednesday August 31, 2011 @12:57PM
(#2946406)
Again, I’m opposed to punishment for punishment’s sake and civil law doesn’t really have anything to do with that. Of course you should be entitled to damages if someone steals something from you. Paying damages isn’t really what I would call punishment. (It’s just that drug addicts usually won’t be able to actually pay you anything. But that’s just how it is.)
I do not know whether there are crimes that can actually be prevented by doing something besides punishment. I just wanted to make clear that I’m open to the possibility.
OK I think I got that from your previous comment. What I can't see is if there is actually an instance that matches your preference at all.
For example in my country minor criminals might be persuaded to meet the people they've offended against. Some may not define this as punishment but it can be a type of humiliation and so I'd class it as a (very minor) punishment.
I'd guess you'd be thinking of something like giving free drugs to addicts that rob people to stop them robbing and at the same time just leave the victims to sort themselves out and pay for the crime (ie no levy, no fine, etc.)?? FWIW this example seems injust to me.