Jane D
interesting question.
I have direct experience of a country that has gone quite hard on terrorists and its own population even 40 years ago if not longer. Everyone acts as if they are guilty even though laws state innocence until convicted. Justice / punishments seem to be too harsh and it is accepted that an honest person can never be 100% good. (They may cross the road on red light, and thus breaking the law.) People have lost sense of proportionality and all is black or white and white in reality does not exist. This leads to acceptance of crime and violence as it just a level of justification required. It can start with crossing the road, to fare dodging on a bus, to stealing for food & cigarettes or from employer because they do not pay/treat one with respect. While stealing they may get unlucky and have to hurt someone not to go to prison for trying to provide for their family. And if unemployment is really high, and benefits don't exist who can blame them.


I've been here long enough not to see everything through rose tinted glasses and I appreciate this justice (and benefits) system. It is not perfect and has always faced political pressure to change to address Brian's and alike views. One such scheme I mentioned earlier 'Community PayBack Scheme' and the idea of trying to get offenders (obviously not guilty of lesser crimes where no custodial sentence was awarded) to do some work in the community had been sold as having positive outcomes in mind. Unfortunately my experience is that too many offenders were just seeing how little they can do. I didn't think this was effective rehabilitation or punishment, but a political farce of trying to justice on a budget.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...games.html

So my advice to all is: leave our justice system to Judges, CPS & Lawyers and fund it properly. It is a price for civilised society in which I'd like to continue living.