What if all crime is punished by just imposing fines?

[Niels Bohr 72]

What would the world be like if all criminal activity resulted in a punishment that only involves fines instead of jail time. What will the world be like?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What would the world be like if all criminal activity resulted in a punishment that only involves fines instead of jail time. What will the world be like?

Poor.

On other side of it - you could have ask what would the world be like if every crime, no matter how small was punishable by death.

Edited April 28, 2008 by Number 6

[chri'stina 190]

You mean even for murderers, child abusers, and worse?

[Niels Bohr 72]

You mean even for murderers, child abusers, and worse?

Yes.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Not a world I'd want to live in.

[chri'stina 190]

You mean even for murderers, child abusers, and worse?

Yes.

Well to answer the original question, I think the world would be even worse off. I can imagine rich people who'd want to commit crimes could afford to pay the fines several times. And what if someone couldn't pay the fine, what would be their punishment?

And I have a very hard time when I hear about people who have done horrible things to children, I can't imagine if they'd just get off with a fine. I have no mercy for people who abuse(in all ways) and kill people weaker than them(I am not saying I am right, but it's how I feel).

I don't think it would be justice if it was only fines.

[MissStacey 1]

If murder was punishable by only a fine, I would marry lots of rich old men and then kill them off.

[Niels Bohr 72]

If murder was punishable by only a fine, I would marry lots of rich old men and then kill them off.

I wish I am the female if that was the case!

Edited April 28, 2008 by consolemaster

[Krikit 1,166]

I suspect that you'd find a lot of people taking the law into their own hands by eliminating the problem themselves. After all, who wouldn't think it was worth killing someone who had just tortured and killed and mutilated their child if all they were going to get was a fine? And what if that criminal has no income? How do you collect? Fine them, again, for not paying their fine? Yeah. Good plan. Might need some refining.

You mean even for murderers, child abusers, and worse?

Yes.

Well to answer the original question, I think the world would be even worse off. I can imagine rich people who'd want to commit crimes could afford to pay the fines several times. And what if someone couldn't pay the fine, what would be their punishment?

And I have a very hard time when I hear about people who have done horrible things to children, I can't imagine if they'd just get off with a fine. I have no mercy for people who abuse(in all ways) and kill people weaker than them(I am not saying I am right, but it's how I feel).

I don't think it would be justice if it was only fines.

Looks like we were posting the same thing at the same time. lol

[mawilson 2,133]

Well to answer the original question, I think the world would be even worse off. I can imagine rich people who'd want to commit crimes could afford to pay the fines several times. And what if someone couldn't pay the fine, what would be their punishment?

Unless you make the fine proportional to their income - say, 50% of your net worth for murder

(with a statutorily imposed minimum of say $500,000) to punish billionaires as well as regular folks.

If someone couldn't pay the fine, they would work for the state until they've earned enough to

pay it (the equivalent of imprisonment.)

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

What kind of fine should uninsured motorists get?

[MissStacey 1]

I think they should bring back public beheadings and hangings. That would be pretty cool.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I think they should bring back public beheadings and hangings. That would be pretty cool.

Move to the middle east.

[Krikit 1,166]

What kind of fine should uninsured motorists get?

I like the fact that I have to pay insurance for uninsured motorists. That's really special.

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

I think they should bring back public beheadings and hangings. That would be pretty cool.

Move to the middle east.

What kind of fine should uninsured motorists get?

I like the fact that I have to pay insurance for uninsured motorists. That's really special.

agreed. that is one odd thing i've never understood about the states.