Re:Why Punish?
by tzs on Sunday July 31, 2022 @11:00AM
(#32295955)
Your examples do not support the proposition that punishment is not a deterrent, unless Norway's prison is such a nice experience that being imprisoned there can't even be considered punishment. They more support the proposition that punishment that is too harsh is counterproductive or punishment not accompanied by rehabilitation efforts (which Norway puts much more into the US) is is not effective.
For a comparison between two places that are more similar than the US and Norway that took different approaches to punishment due to the pandemic, see this article comparing Albuquerque, New Mexico and Wichita, Kansas [1]. It suggests that what is important is the speed and certainty of punishment rather than how severe that punishment is that serves as a deterrent.
Here's an interview with the author of that article about this [2].
For a comparison between two places that are more similar than the US and Norway that took different approaches to punishment due to the pandemic, see this article comparing Albuquerque, New Mexico and Wichita, Kansas [1]. It suggests that what is important is the speed and certainty of punishment rather than how severe that punishment is that serves as a deterrent.
Here's an interview with the author of that article about this [2].
[1] https://www.propublica.org/article/two-cities-took-different...
[2] https://www.npr.org/2022/07/24/1113281623/pandemic-court-clo...