Do the crime, pay the time...

Punishments vary for different types of crimes, severity of the crime, location, and all around scenario. Different types of punishments are incapacitation, retribution, rehabilitation, and deterrence.
Incapacitation is the amputation of body parts. This punishment is not used in the United States for the most part. It is used in other countries and a punishment for crimes such as stealing or rape. The body part that "correlates" to the nature of the crime is cut off. If a person is caught stealing, the offender may have his hand chopped off so the crime will not be repeated. Or if one is found guilty of rape, the rapist would be castrated. Castration of rapists have been done in the United States on voluntary basis.



Retribution is pay back or revenge. Example is when a son kills a daughter of another family. The daughter's family may retaliate and kill a member of the son's family in the name of their daughter. It also is used in civil court (Think, Judge Judy!) for property damage. If a person destroys a car, instead of actually replacing the car, the offender would just give money to replace the broken parts. It is often used in civil court cases or with unreported crimes between private parties.


Rehabilitation is a punishment that is really controversial. It is designed to help the offender change paths or "fix them". Helping the offender realize their faults in hope that they can change. Some wholly believe that it does not work and others say it changes their lives. Of course if a criminal does not want help themselves they obviously will not be able to change. Rehabilitation is taken by criminals with drug problems and even rapists.


Another type of punishment that can be considered controversial is "detterrence". It is giving one offender a punishment in order to deter others from committing that same crime. Motto: "If it's bad enough, they won't do it!". Death penalty is an example. Many people would not want to lose their lives so the thought process is that the person may think twice about committing murder.
What punishments do you believe are most effective?