פרסומים אחרונים במדור "חברה וכלכלה"

Hannibal Lecter: No, he covets. That's his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Clarice? Do we seek out things to covet? Make an effort to answer.
Clarice Starling: No. We just...
Hannibal Lecter: No. Precisely. We begin by coveting what we see every day. Don't you feel eyes moving over your body, Clarice? And don't your eyes move over the things you want?

‏¹ http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_pri_per_cap&...
‏² http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_ass_cap&...
‏³ http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_bur_cap&...
‏⁴ http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_exe_cap&...
‏⁵ http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_mur_cap&...
‏⁶ http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/cri_rap_cap&...

I've read the article carefully, and I'm afraid I entirely disagree. Research on crime and punishment is what I do for a living, and I find it very hard to relate to anecdotal material such as the cases related in the article. Nevertheless, I believe that the other side of the argument - supported by extensive sound research - should not be cast aside for vindictiveness and fear.

The handful of cases presented in the article, so as to support a supposed "trend" in violence, are extremely atypical. Any analysis of the types of crime brought before courts - in Israel and abroad - will show that vicious murders such as that of the taxi driver, though undoubtedly horrifying and shocking, are extremely rare. Most homicides occur in very different contexts. And homicides do not nearly constitute such a significant share in the world of crime. I would therefore be very, very cautious, to express such a punitive approach toward crime in general.

Even limiting the argument to homicide itself, I have several times commented in this forum about the questionable nature of the deterrent article. I also don't believe much in incapacitation, for both economic and moral reasons. Research conducted in the 1980s about rehabilitation pointed to the problematic nature of those problems, but they don't make things any worse than incapacitation does - and they are much cheaper.

As to the author's observations about the nature of imprisonment, I sadly have to disagree again. I have visited various corrective institutions in connection with my practical and academic work, and, though the conditions certainly differ between different institutions, I find it very hard to wish the horrible experience of incarceration on anyone. My main argument against mass imprisonment is a utilitarian, though: prisons have become warehouses which do not do much to eradicate crime - in any way - and which absorb resources which could be implemented into social welfare - a movement which might do much more for crime than incarceration.

This is, of course, not to say that the handful of crimes paraded in the article are not heinous and horrible. They are. But this type of argument, and particularly the numerous cheerful responses after it - make me very afraid. They remind me of cheering audiences before the gallows in Early-Modern Europe. I would like to see more sound data, a more thorough analysis, and last but not least - some compassion for the numerous people subjected to the system, whose cases are more multifaceted than those presented here.

For anyone interested in another perspective (and I hope there are such folks around), I strongly recommend David Garland's new book The Culture of Control.

You haven't been mugged yet, huh?

I'm sorry to shatter the stereotypes, but yes, I actually have been a victim of crime. I just make a distinction between my personal experiences and my professional opinion, which is based on sound research and not on my private case. Naturally, when this happens to you personally you are shocked; but policies made based on such personal reactions tend toward the unmeasured and perhaps draconic. When folks launch into policy discussions based on emotional anecdotes, it makes me concerned.