Should we bring back corporal punishment for criminals?

[Audley Strange]

Since the prison system is punitive anyway as well as costly and not particularly effective at decreasing recidivism as well as been a networking centre for petty criminals to get better employment opportunities, would anyone be opposed to convicted criminals having the option of taking corporal punishment rather than a fine or a small costly amount of jail-time if this was their first conviction for a minor crime?

[Rum]

There is no evidence that it would be any more effective than imprisonment. It also seems to me to be barbarous.

[cronus]

There is no evidence that it would be any more effective than imprisonment. It also seems to me to be barbarous.

I believe in a eye for eye and tooth for a tooth. You can argue barbaric but it'll keep dentists and surgeons in business.

[Clinton Huxley]

Do we get a black-hooded Thrashmaster Gerneral to administer the punishment? That would be quite good.

[Audley Strange]

There is no evidence that it would be any more effective than imprisonment. It also seems to me to be barbarous.

No but it would be cheaper. I'd agree it would be barbarous if it were not optional and if it were done in the town square. However say some young dude gets drunk and into a fight and ends up on an assault charge, which is not a habitual thing but a stupid mistake, nothing is served at all by any punitive measures. It's the ritual thats the thing in such a case, the punishment is nominal, would it be so unfair as to offer them a choice between 6 lashes, a £1200 fine or 128 hours community service?

[Audley Strange]

Do we get a black-hooded Thrashmaster Gerneral to administer the punishment? That would be quite good.

If you so desire. Look at the pantomimes we have for parliament, so why not? I think it's likely to be a pale middle aged civil servant with a box of cheap black poly-hoods rather than some oiled up bare-chested turk who's had his lips stitched up.

[laklak]

Sure, why not? I'd add another option, the stocks. Let the lower orders throw rotten veggies at them. And tumbrels, always liked that idea.

[cronus]

Sure, why not? I'd add another option, the stocks. Let the lower orders throw rotten veggies at them. And tumbrels, always liked that idea.

Stocks for the lowers and a guillotine for the wealthy.

[Audley Strange]

Sure, why not? I'd add another option, the stocks. Let the lower orders throw rotten veggies at them. And tumbrels, always liked that idea.

Yeah, that wouldn't work nowadays. People don't care about what type of fame they get as long as its fame.

[Pappa]

There is no evidence that it would be any more effective than imprisonment. It also seems to me to be barbarous.

Previously I've read that it can be a more effective deterrent than prison, but only when it involves cutting hands, heads or cocks off.

[Robert_S]

There is no evidence that it would be any more effective than imprisonment. It also seems to me to be barbarous.

Sending someone to a barbarous prison for years is also pretty fucking barbarous IMO. What's the difference? Who's hands get dirty more obviously dirty IMO. In many prisons, prisoners get assaulted mentally, emotionally, physically, sexually. Of course this isn't officially sanctioned, but it is widely known of and therefore we as societies are just as complicit as if we had dropped off a child at a known serial molester's house.

IMO, giving someone an Extremely Unpleasant Learning Experience, that doesn't take months or years of their lives away would be a lot more humane. What do we fear? We fear that we will have to face our deeds squarely.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Hello and welcome to the Friday Night Live Pillory show - brought to you in association with Asda (who no longer have to re-date their fruit and veg in order to sell it!)

[Svartalf]

Since the prison system is punitive anyway as well as costly and not particularly effective at decreasing recidivism as well as been a networking centre for petty criminals to get better employment opportunities, would anyone be opposed to convicted criminals having the option of taking corporal punishment rather than a fine or a small costly amount of jail-time if this was their first conviction for a minor crime?

Ready for some massive constitutional amending and a radical simplification of the appeals parts of the judicial system?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Since the prison system is punitive anyway as well as costly and not particularly effective at decreasing recidivism as well as been a networking centre for petty criminals to get better employment opportunities, would anyone be opposed to convicted criminals having the option of taking corporal punishment rather than a fine or a small costly amount of jail-time if this was their first conviction for a minor crime?

Ready for some massive constitutional amending and a radical simplification of the appeals parts of the judicial system?

M'lud, the defendant is prepared to plead guilty if the 5 strokes on the backside with a slipper is commuted to a single slap about the face with a wet kipper.

[Robert_S]

I think physical punishment lends itself to bravado. I think we need boring, maximum boring. What's the most boring thing you can do to a person over say, a two week period?