Interview about crime and punishment

Crime and punishment is akin to Newton’s Law which says “Action and Reaction are opposite and equal”. Whatever crime is done, punishment is meted out. The actual punishment should commensurate with the severity of the crime. The most appropriate punishment should be one that is designed to correct the wrong action and behaviour, along with proper education. For example if you litter, the punishment could be either a fine or corrective work order. Corrective work order is an ideal punishment for litter instead of a fine. Corrective work order will teach litterbugs not to litter anymore as the person will understand the consequence of his wrongdoing. For crimes that are very serious like murders, the punishment can be capital punishment in some countries. This is the ultimatum as there is no turning back for the offender. The punishment for a crime that is not of great consequence sometimes requires the offender to be jailed. The intent of such punishment should really not work on the principle of “payback” by the offenders rather than a disincentive to misbehave. Therefore campaigns such as the yellow ribbon project for ex-offenders are commendable. This gives the offender a second chance to turn over a new leaf. But sadly our society may not be as ready for this. Many companies may not be ready to hire an ex-offender, particularly if the position role is one in a high security industry such as a bank. We should embrace and nurture a culture of civic mindedness and be more forgiving.