crime and punishment

For this week's task 4, based on the video you watched in class and articles you have read on your own, write a blog entry consisting of at least 300 words and 2 content paragraphs on any one of the following topics:
(a) Effective law and order requires effective punishment. Do you agree?
(b) Any form of punishment that is effective in maintaining law and order is justified. Do you agree?


Laws are invented to ensure that the people it protects are safe from harm and to maintain a state of order among the people. As such, punishment or penalties for breaking the laws must be effective so that wrongdoers or criminals will be deterred from commiting crimes. Take for instance in Texas, wrongdoers are made to carry a sign that describes their crime and must walk with this sign in public. Due to the loss of honor, many potential wrongdoers are discouraged from commiting crimes and the crime rate has been lowered significantly. Another form of punishment is life sentences where criminals are made to stay in jail for nearly their whole lives. This also prevents future crimes as criminals do not want to pay for their crimes with their whole lifetime. Thus, with punishments that help to bring down the crime rate and hence offer a higher degree of safety to the people, it can be said that they do work to ensure effective law and order.

However, effective punishment is not all that is needed for effective law and order. Laws are invented to protect people's rights but criminals are people too! Thus, criminals cannot be put through inhumane and unreasonable punishment in accordance with their rights. In this way, effective law and order requires effective punishment that adheres to moral values. In ancient times, torture was employed to punish criminals. It was very cruel as the criminals were subjected to high amounts of pain and it was inhumane as well. This goes against criminals rights and as such torture has been abolished by today's United Nations and anyone caught in the act of torture is subjected to punishment by international law against torture. In brief, people as well as criminals have rights when it comes to maintaining a high state of law and order but we must not forget our morals.