Crime, Prison, and other Forms of Punishment
i i i i In America today, the prison system is expensive and largely broken. Those who
commit crimes are likely to be “trained” to commit more crimes in a prison
environment.1 i Though the prison system is meant to be a system of justice, it is
largely an unjust system. i This is described by McQuilkin and Copan as “unequal
punishment.”2 i They describe a man who killed another in revenge, a businessman
who had kissed his secretary (five years prior to the trial), and a couple of drunk
Japanese teenagers who captured and roasted a swan that was swimming in front of
the imperial palace.3 i Despite the great difference in the severity of the crimes
committed, all the above situations received the same punishment, four years in
prison.4 i They then go on to describe a woman who drowned her child and only
received two years in prison (with an early pardon).5 i This unbalance in crime and
punishment is unjust and should concern Christians who desire to see justice.
i i i i In many precincts, drug crimes make up most of the incarcerations. i In Iowa, for
example, they anticipate a 52% increase in the percent population incarcerated, due to
increased enforcement on drug crimes.6 i Seventy-five percent of those incarcerated in
the United States are non-violent offenders.7 i It seems that for many of these people,
their incarceration is above and beyond what is needed for “justice,” and that
spending time in prison only increases their likelihood of committing future crimes. i
What other options are there for punishment other than the current prison system?
i i i i One suggestion McQuilkin and Copan suggest is an increased use of fining for non-
violent criminals.8 i Fining is much cheaper than incarceration, and by using fines,
money can be raised to repay those who suffered loss on account of the criminal’s
behavior. i Additionally, fining has the benefit of keeping nonviolent criminals out of
the prison where they may be subject to abuse or build relationships that lead them
into further crimes.9 i McQuilkin and Copan mention corporal punishment not likely
being an option in the near future because of a lack of cultural acceptability.10 i One
wonders, however, if for some crimes, criminals were given a choice between thirty
days in prison or thirty lashes with whips, how many would choose the corporal
punishment far and above the prison time. i I posit that corporal punishment would be
more preferable to criminals, more effective at getting them to change their behavior,
and be far cheaper than prison. i People often reject corporal punishment as being
inhumane, but if prisoners were given a choice between corporal punishment and
prison, and they pick corporal punishment, it’s hard to imagine how one could argue
the prison system is more humane than corporal punishment.
i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i
i i i i 1 J Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan,
An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking
in the Way of Wisdom
(Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 2014), 437.
i i i i 2 Ibid., 435.
i i i i 3 Ibid., 435-436.
i i i i 4 Ibid.
i i i i 5 Ibid.
i i i i 6 Jenniffer Harry, “Iowa Prisons Filling as Drug Crimes Increase,”
Corrections
Compendium
26, no. 12 (2001): 7.
i i i i 7 McQuilkin,
Introduction Biblical Ethics
, 437.
i i i i 8 Ibid.
i i i i 9 Ibid.
i i i i 10 Ibid.
Bibliography
Harry, Jenniffer. “Iowa Prisons Filling as Drug Crimes Increase.”
Corrections
Compendium
26, no. 12 (2001): 7.
McQuilkin, J Robertson, and Paul Copan.
An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in
the Way
of Wisdom. Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 2014.
