Deterrent through superior punishment. Yep.
Aim: A society where grannies can go for a walk at 2 am if they want to, with no worries other than maybe slipping over. A society where you're 100% sure that even if you forget to lock your door your stuff will still be there when you get back.
New class of crime: Crimes against personal security (burglary, mugging, theft from private areas*, peeing in the wine you hand out to a customer you don't like).
New class of conviction: Beyond all doubt (caught red handed or 100% evidence).
Punishment: 60 years in solitary. No time off for good behaviour. Edited highlights of the perps slowly going mad just after Ant and Dec's slot on a Saturday night.
Result: A few extra people in chokey. Mucho reduced crime.
Job done.
(* I see theft from private areas as much more intrusive and worrying than theft from public areas - i.e. burglary is much more upsetting to the victim than the theft of a Mars Bar from a shop is to the shop owner).
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