The Global Community Tribunal

Reading the court sentence of the kidnappers of the Chad children, allegedly kidnapped by workers of the Zoe’s Ark charity,  I wondered by myself whether it does not provide an acceptable punitive compromise.  In South Africa and as a result of the present crime wave,  the demand for the re-introduction of the death penalty is growing. People believe that it would act as a effective deterrent for criminals. I read on a bill board that a call was even made from the pulpit of some church for the death penalty to be re-instituted.

 
I, for one, am however not in favor of the death penalty. But would it not be a viable option to consider the re-introduction of hard labour to be added to jail sentences? I understand that even this kind of punishment is prohibited by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. But rather than amending the Constitution to introduce the death penalty (which many of us oppose) why not opt for the lesser evil?

 
It is a fact that the efficiency with which criminals are apprehended and brought to justice is the greater deterrent and not so much the punishment they receive. It may however well deter the commission of incidental crimes.  I’m  quite sure that the message will very soon spread that a life sentence of hard labour is no fun and that criminals at least should think twice when they go on the rampage. You may steal and earn yourself the normal kind of punishment. But do not kill or attempt to kill just for the hell of it–  from which the thief and robber in any event stand nothing to gain – because the penalty is so much worse.

 
I sincerely believe that this idea has some merit.

J.C.Grobler.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, January 12th, 2008 at 3:22 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.