Essay on The History and Evolution of Punishment for Crime

The incarceration rate in the United States has continued to climb over the past twenty years making it one of the highest in the world. Police officers have been going to work trying to put away people who are breaking the law, but why do criminals continue to do so when they know they have a good chance of getting caught? Crime has been around since societies have evolved and every society has had their own way of dealing with criminal behavior. From early tribal times where the thinking was an eye for an eye, to medieval times when people who stole a loaf of bread would be put to death by being hung, and today with a court system that decides the fate of a criminal. Throughout history the ways of punishing people have changed pretty†¦show more content†¦And he shall look to his house for it† (Hoffner 1997:71, Skoll pg 26). Unlike in today’s societies these examples show that there is no one above the law and that there is an exact consequence for the crime. T here is no plea bargaining for a lesser charge and there is no first, second, or third degree of murder or any other crime. In the United States today the president can pardon a criminal of a crime if he feels he wants to, showing that the president can be above the law. This may be a reason why people do commit crimes today because they know they can get away with more and do less time in some cases. Although these are primitive times, the set rules are not to be changed or broken; there is a direct punishment for separate crimes which everyone knows. In today’s society a person could be put on death row for murder while another receives twenty years or less. There are no loopholes in the primitive system, all a person needs today is money to pay for a good lawyer. The people of our time believe that we have a fair justice system, who gives out equal and right punishments, but still guilty people are being let go free and in some cases innocent people are being put behind ba rs. Yes we have a fair legal system but before this system came into play there was a more barbaric way of gaining confessions and handing out punishment. The medieval period was filled with ruthless killings handed down by power hungry kingsShow MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty Throughout History1074 Words   |  5 Pagesdevelopment of the death penalty throughout history. It begins with a brief explanation of the origins of capital punishment, referencing the first known documentation of actions punishable by death. The paper goes on to explore different methods of execution and how they have progressed and changed over the years. Documented cases at different points of history are referenced to show the relationship of time periods and beliefs to the implementation of capital punishment. Finally, the development of differentRead MoreThe Rational Choice Theory1728 Words   |  7 Pagespreferable over pain); finally that an organized system of laws and punishments which catered to th ese human traits is necessary to help keep society complaint (Winfree amp; Abadinsky,2003). Later in the 1960s Gary Becker argued that with the exception of a mentally ill individual who may commit a crime, people way out there pros and cons before committing the act of breaking the law. They may engaged in a cost benefit analysis of the crime, weighing out what they expect to gain against the risk they mustRead MoreEvolution of Capital Punishment1142 Words   |  5 PagesEvolution of Capital Punishment Ever since there has been crime, there has been punishment. One form of punishment that has existed since the beginning of society is capital punishment. As crime and societies have evolved over time, so have capital punishment, its forms, and its reasons for use. Capital punishment is defined as the execution or death for a capital offense. (Hill Hill 1995: 75) A capital offense is defined as being any criminal charge that is punishable by the death penalty.Read MoreEssay on The Evolution of Capital Punishment1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Evolution of Capital Punishment Ever since there has been crime, there has been punishment. One form of punishment that has existed since the beginning of society is capital punishment. As crime and societies have evolved over time, so have capital punishment, its forms, and its reasons for use. Capital punishment is defined as the execution or death for a capital offense. (Hill Hill 1995: 75) A capital offense is defined as being any criminal charge that is punishable by the death penaltyRead MoreThe Romanian Criminal Justice System1715 Words   |  7 PagesState University – San Marcos The Romanian Criminal Justice System The history and evolution of any country is complex and open to the interpretation of progression or regression as defined by the reader. The history of its criminal justice system is no different. This is more so complicated in that this particular country, Romania, is in a relatively new post-communist era. To increase the understanding of the evolution of law and justice in Eastern Europe, the paper will review the currentRead MorePenitentiary Ideal and the American Prisons1292 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Penitentiary Ideal and the American Prisons: Prisons have developed to become famous institutions in the modern society to an extent that its difficult to remember that these institutions have a history of slightly over two centuries. Prisons emerged in Europe first before the United States as a product of the dual transformation that established the basis for contemporary capitalism. The institutions are famous because they are an integral part of the criminal justice system that house condemnedRead MoreCriminal Justice And The Juvenile Justice System1689 Words   |  7 Pagescriminal justice system has improved more and more throughout history by changing something as simple as law enforcement officer’s purpose and who they are taking orders from. The objective of this analysis is to break down these three criminal justice subjects: the juvenile justice system, prison life and the different policing eras. Juveniles has an extensive background of violent crimes throughout history. Ever since the 1990s crime rates for youth has decreased in some way compared to the lateRead MorePolice Influence on Society744 Words   |  3 Pageson society. The factors can be both negative and positive on society. The police are in the community to protect and serve. The main purpose of law enforcement is to maintain order and to investigate criminal activity in the United States. The history of American policing was learned from Great Britain and adapted by America. The first ideal people to do the policing were healthy young boys and men that had come over with the Europeans on the first ships to venture to America (Trojanowicz, R.Read MoreCapital Punishment Should Be Prohibited By Our Justice System923 Words   |  4 PagesDeath Penalty Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is one of the most debated issues in politics. It is a subject with a long and varied history; countries have adjusted their laws about it many times. The methods of the death penalty have changed over time as well, from public to private executions and from hanging, firing squads and beheading to lethal injection. Despite this evolution, there are some questions yet to be answered, such as: Does capital punishment have benefits? Does a person’sRead MoreFuture of the Juvenile Justice System1280 Words   |  6 Pagesneeds of the juvenile delinquents and issue them a punishment for violating the law. In order to improve the direction of the juvenile justice system, recommendations are needed regarding community involvement, law enforcement, courts, corrections, and the private sector. These recommendations address issues that the system is currently facing and offers solutions for the future. A justification of the system is also offere d based on the histories, trends and causation theories. Community Involvement