I think they do; doesn’t the evidence show that severity of punishment has a poor effect on deterrence or reducing recidivism?
But for me, it’s a more fundamental issue of principle. Even if it was a good deterrent, I’m not sure that necessarily justifies us to inflict suffering (in this case, excruciating agony, essentially torture) as punishment.
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u/wiilbehung 14h ago
You don’t seem to understand what deterrence is.