Do You Prefer Flogging or Prison?

Back in 1994, an American teenager named Michael P. Fay was caned in Singapore for theft and vandalism. That incident sparked an outcry here in the United States, as many people found it barbaric (to be fair, the reaction was far from uniform - a lot of Americans actually favored it).

Fast forward to today. Peter Moskos, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is advocating flogging as a viable punishment to replace prison time:

[Moskos] argues that our prison system is not only overcrowded and violent, but that it is completely ineffective. "I can't think of another institution that has failed as mightily as the prison has," he writes. As an alternative, he says, the least dangerous convicts should be given a choice — jail time, or two lashes for every year of their sentence.

Moskos predicts the prison population would see a massive decline, freeing up billions of dollars for more useful purposes. Others suggest government-sanctioned violence would do nothing to reduce crime, and might even increase criminals' violent tendencies. Is flogging really our best option?

What do you think? Should we bring back the cat o' nine tails? Would you prefer flogging to years of imprisonment?

http://theweek.com/article/briefing_blog/272/crime-and-punishment


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I can't think of another institution that has failed as mightily as the prison has," he writes.

How about the educational system? Can we try some flogging there?
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Here's something better: how about we rehabilitate them? Sure, there will always be those you can't help, but a large population of those in prisons can be helped by giving them some help. Keep in mind that a society is judged by how it deals with the least among them.
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@JMM

You can't enforce morality. People are born with them, and one's way of life has an effect on them for better or for worse. You can only enforce laws & ethics.
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May those who favor state sponsored punishments like flogging and solitary confinement never have a loved one condemned to such treatment.
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