Should criminals' jail sentences be lengthened?

@Rudy1 Said

I live here in Australia where jail sentences handed to criminals are a joke. The whole world must be laughing at us. Our magistrates live in some fairland and are totally out of touch with reality. For instance, a person can commit murder and, with good behaviour, be out of jail again in five years. Often series offenders who commit other violent crimes receive only community work. Other crimes too get only slap-on-the-wrist sentences, leaving victims and/or their families feeling let down and betrayed by an out of touch legal system. What are your thoughts on this, and what kind of punishments are handed out in your countries to criminals?

@Rudy1 Said

Nobody does 19 years for murder in this country - at least not in most cases. Your stats source might have said otherwise, but the reality is far different.

@Rudy1 Said

Not to worry. I've just done a quick scan of the Net and in parts of Australia a murderer can be paroled in 10 years. It's up to the magistrate. I have encountered cases where people have gotten out in less than 10 years. I just wonder what the taking of a human life should receive in the way of a just penalty.
On the other hand, the killing of a policeman is given a sentence of 25 years, etc

@x_Laura_x Said

Well "life" should mean "life".

No getting out 10 years early, 5 years early for "good behaviour" - people that get life sentences should be rotting in jail. They shouldn't be walking free on the streets.

And in case anyone asks - no, I don't believe murderers, paedophiles and the like can be rehabilitated.

@x_Laura_x Said

Well "life" should mean "life".

@Wellard Said

Are you being serious or is my sarcasm detector faulty again??.

For murder you get life but it should all depend on the circumstances of the murder and not be immediately life imo.

What about the 'murderers' who are in prison who have never been criminals but in a quick moment of rage killed someone,would you say that they deserve to die in prison?.

@Rudy1 Said

I'm glad to see that there are a few people responding to this.

What a criminal gets as punishment for their crimes does depend on the region where they live. In Asia the death penalty is mainly dealt out for crimes such as murder and in dealing with drugs over a certain amount. I knew a former Asian prison guard who witnessed quite a few hangings in one of the prisons of criminals who dealt in these areas. Executions by hanging were very commnon. In Australia we have done away with the death penalty, which I think should have been retained.

Anyway, getting back to our subject, the length of prison terms. The point that I was trying to make in my clumsy way was that these terms are getting way to short in countries like Australia. The punishment is supposed to be, in part, a deterrant. Punishments are just a joke now.

Wellard said, in relation to murder, should someone be punished if they kill someone in a fit of rage? Unpremeditated killing could be a case of Manslaughter as mentioned my foosyerdoos . But if someone dies by your hand, you should face suitable punishment.