Even if the next guy thinks - somehow - that the victim will be of the same mind as Samantha Geimer then I believe then I believe as deterrence that can be incorporated into more severe sentencing.
My recollection, and it's been a while since I looked at the studies, is that the severity of a sentence doesn't actually have a lot of influence on deterrence; what has a larger effect is the probability of conviction.
crimes must have victims, and the victims must also feel whether the crime is worth proceeding upon
How would you deal with a situation where it's not possible to determine the victim's wishes?
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Date: 2009-12-17 05:08 am (UTC)My recollection, and it's been a while since I looked at the studies, is that the severity of a sentence doesn't actually have a lot of influence on deterrence; what has a larger effect is the probability of conviction.
crimes must have victims, and the victims must also feel whether the crime is worth proceeding upon
How would you deal with a situation where it's not possible to determine the victim's wishes?