How should criminals be punished? Based on how bad they hurt the society? Should their sentences be less severe if it would make them a lot likelier rehabilitate because they are young or so on?
What is the purpose of long jail sentences that institutionalize criminals? Just to keep them out of the way?
Are icky crimes more punishable? Should rapist serve more penalty than a white collar criminal who did the same amount of damage to the society?
Do we need to please the potentially angry mobs with an eye for an eye mentality? Are prisons just deterrents and a way to keep the bad eggs from running loose? Should the system have a rehabilitation center for those unfortunate souls who chose the wrong path?
Discuss.