Friday, October 24, 2014
post 2
After reading some of our classmates post I have a question for everyone! After learning about how our prefrontal cortex doesn't stop developing till 20-22 years old, what are your thoughts about special needs and punishment? Should they be punished the same as a fully developed adult? I remember a couple years ago a trial and debate was going on about a special needs man who killed someone. They debated on how to trial the man due to the fact that he was not fully developed cognitively. Sometime I know I act on impulse or emotion and decide things that might not be the right choice, like going out a night when I should be home working on homework (obviously not as extreme). Anyway, what are your thoughts? I think that they should be trialed the same but should also have some other programs to go through that can help them better than just throwing them into jail. Some know right from wrong when some may not. I don't mean it in a morally way, I mean it more in a justice way, what do you think should be done? Should they be thrown in jail, or should they have programs that could help them develop more understanding why they are being punished.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I have actually been thinking about this topic recently. Just last week, a man stabbed another man in my neighborhood. I live in a very safe area and so this was quite a big deal. As it turned out the man who did the stabbing had had a very bad car accident several years ago and is not fully mentally functioning. As of now, he was assessed and released by a psychologist as not dangerous and the police are considering the incident to be provoked. Of course on the other hand, the man who was stabbed and many other people feel that that it is ridiculous and that he clearly should be declared dangerous simply by the fact that he has stabbed a person. The debate is fierce, as well in regards to how he should be punished and to what extend of the law since he is not mentally all there. He was not meant to be alone he usually has a care giver, but he left his house in the dead of night when he heard voices outside on the pavement. Personally I think there has to be mild punishment, but that he should not be punished to the full extent of the law since he was not fully aware of what he was doing, nor was the inflicted would actually particularly damaging to the victim. It is an interesting a difficult topic dealing with the law and mental handicaps.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe measure of a society is how well it cares for those at the bottom, whether it is mentally, intellectually, or financially. I think all people need to be held to certain laws and punished for violating them. However in the case of a mentally handicapped individual I think the punishment should be different. They should be prevented from harming other people, but I don't think they should be mainstreamed in the prison system.
ReplyDelete