Moral Dimensions of Punishment

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the moral dimensions of punishment, particularly with regard to criminals and incarceration. The paper argues that how stridently the criminal justice system pursues convicted criminals is a core moral and ethical issue. The paper also briefly looks at morally gray areas of punishment such as maximum security prisons and the procedures used to control and monitor inmates.

From the Paper:

"Morally gray areas of punishment include maximum security prisons and the procedures used to control and monitor inmates. The basic conflict is between the rights of the individual offender and the rights of the victim. Justice system professionals, policy makers, and citizens face ethical conundrums when contemplating the ideal balance. What role the state should have in terms of surveillance of convicted sex offenders may also pose problems for policy makers and justice system officials. Moreover, punishment is almost always informed by political decisions, which creates further moral problems. A "tough on crime" fervor that swept through the United States during the 1980s and which still persists has had a profound impact on many American citizens. Three strikes laws and strident drugs laws are a few examples of when "tough on crime" can be an ethically questionable justice policy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Primorac, I. (nd). Is Retributivism Analytic? The Royal Institute of Philosophy. Retrieved June 17, 2007 from http://www.royalinstitutephilosophy.org/articles/article.php?id=20
• Stern, S. (2003). Discussing the morality of capital punishment. Christian Science Monitor. 12 Nov 2003. Retrieved June 17, 2007 from http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1112/p16s01-usju.html
• Townsend, C. (2005). The morality of punishment. Cambridge Papers. 31 May 2005. Retrieved June 17, 2007 from http://www.leaderu.com/humanities/moralityofpunishment.html

More papers on Moral Dimensions of Punishment:

• Research Paper # 75507 : "The Moral Dimensions of Punishment"
• Term Paper # 92614 : "Morality and the Criminal Justice System"
• Term Paper # 8225 : "Capital Punishment"

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