What are the aims of the penalties?

[Hopes_Guevara]

I've read the thread "Death Penalty" and I remember a thing. When I was at the Law University, I have studied the subject "Criminal Law", my teacher asked us a question "In my countries (The Socialist Republic of Vietnam), what're the aims of penalties?". Someone answered that "They are the punishments" but some others told " They are not the punishments. The penalties are just to educate the criminals" and the others thought that the penalties have both of the aims. So what do you think about this?

[carlito]

I would have thought that the penalties have both aims,
in this day and age people are never blindly punished, but also to stop others from doing the same mistakes, hence educating and punishing.

[Bannockburn]

Certainly. One of the main goals of punishment is not to only punish the offender, but to deter every other individual who has the potential to make the same crime. To deter, includes all innnocent people. So, really in the eyes of the penal system and the judicial system, all citizens are guilty already of all crimes, and must be shown the consequences.

[Hopes_Guevara]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10 2005, 02:54 PM
So, really in the eyes of the penal system and the judicial system, all citizens are guilty already of all crimes, and must be shown the consequences.
Nobody can be considered as a criminal until the Court's judgment takes effect.
That is a basic principle of Criminal Law.

Thus, all of citizens must be considered unguilty, not guilty as you said.