At what other point in your life would you accidentally put heroin and cocaine in the same syringe to your friend?
I fail to see how this point is relevant.
No matter what you call it, someone is being punished. Therefore, Punitive-Retributive System.
It IS important what we call it. The whole idea behind Retributive Justice is that the punishment fits the crime. Yes, someone is being punished, but this happens in alot of other ideas of Justice. Because the punishment should be according to the crime, this would be Retributive Justice.
Retributive JusticeEven if he is faking it and does harm someone, it does not increase the chance of a repeat offender.
So, by comming a crime that ends him in rehab, and he pretends that he is cured, and he goes out back to society to commit another crime, this isn't a repeat offender? That statement is true according to your above logic.
Then why are there so many repeat offenders?
Because we have not enacted a true system of Retributive Justice. This ad was at the top of this page:
If we can't even punish a criminal according to the crime he has commited, than recidivism will increase until this is possible. Recidivism will do down, once a true system of Retributive Justice has been achieved.
Most murders are crimes of passion.
Thats irrelevant to this point. Saudia Arabia publicaly executes its criminals who have recieved the death sentence. And wouldn't you know, they have low levels of crime. Obviously, this is sending a message to possible criminals that this is a possible outcome of your crime.
Then why are there so many repeat offenders?
The US Justice system is divided into two parts: The Adult Justice System, and the Juvenile Justice System. The Former deals primarily with punishment (Retributive Justice), and the Latter downplays punishment, and stresses rehabilitation more (Restorative Justice).
The American Law Institute observed in 2008 that
"85.4% of the violent crimes commited by juveniles required what is considered legally "remeditation"; this entails will and responsiblitly for the action to be committed. Of this percentage almost two thirds of the offenders were not prosecuted as adults, this lack resulted in a recidivism rate of 94%" This shows that Juveniles who are kept in the Juvenile Justice System, a system of Restorative Justice, actually had higher rates of recidivism as compared to those Juveniles transfered to the Adult Justice System, a system of Retributive Justice. This also disprooves your statement that most murders are 'acts of passion', as 85.4% of the violent crimes committed by juveniles were acts of premeditation.
What about people who sell crack cocaine as their only source of money? What do you expect them to do once they get out? They have no money. No house. No food. What will they do for money? The only thing they know how. Sell crack cocaine.
They would NOT do that. If a true system of Retributive Justice was in place, the ex-convict would be aware of the consequences of his actions. Therefore, because he would fear the results of his actions, he would not do those negative actions. If he did, he would recive harsher and harsher punishments until he learned that lesson.