PHILOSOPHY - Punishment 8: Proportionality in Punishment

In this wireless philosophy video, Barry Lam (Vassar College, Hi-Phi Nation podcast) discusses several alternative approaches to determining how severely offenders should be punished for the crimes they commit.

[RicardoMorenoAlmeida]

It doesn't matter if we switch tomorrow to na all rehabilitative system if we also don't switch out hiring biases such as not hiring ex-convicts. If, as people say, once a criminal is out of jail they have paid their debt to society, they should suffer no further societal consequences. Asking a good candidate for a job if he's an ex-con and then not hiring based on that, implies they have NOT paid their debt. I see that as a very big factor in recidivism.

[benjamindover]

Isn't a felony a federal crime, and thus the same in all states?

[NoirC]

Criminals are also victims. They are victims of themselves and moral luck that made them as they are.

[allisterblue]

One important consideration is that, while providing free education would help prevent further crime, the fact that non-criminals don't have access to it might very well incentivize people to commit a first violation.

[anthonynatoli]

Once again, the animation uses the term "desert", when it should be "dessert".