The only way to cut crime in our country is to make punishment
more severe
Crime is one of the most important issues in Serbia. In the last few years the crime rate has been going up. The most common felonies are burglary, rape, drug dealing and murder. Lots of people think that the only way we can solve this problem is making punishment more severe.
On the one hand, punishment here is truly too permissive. For example, there were some cases when a criminal was not incarcerated just because the prisons were totally full. Many people feel that in order to be rightful, this cannot be allowed. In addition to this, in our country it is tolerated to steal up to 15 000 dinars without being arrested or anyhow punished. The idea of restoring the death penalty also has some supporters. According to their opinion, if the sentences were harder, less people would commit crimes.
On the other hand, there are some arguments against more severe punishment. People point out that the main reason for theft is poverty and the poor steal due to the high level of unemployment. They suggest that the government should use public work as a punishment in those cases when people commit minor crimes because they are starving. Others oppose the capital punishment as they reckon that this kind of penalty is inhumane and against dignity. Furthermore, they think that it is not better than any other kind of murder.
All things considered, our country surely needs some changes, but I would not bring back the death penalty. In my opinion the government ought to build more prisons, doom people to public work, do something about the huge unemployment rate and should not allow petty thefts.
Crime is one of the most important issues in Serbia. In the last few years the crime rate has been going up. The most common felonies are burglary, rape, drug dealing and murder. Lots of people think that the only way we can solve this problem is making punishment more severe.
On the one hand, punishment here is truly too permissive. For example, there were some cases when a criminal was not incarcerated just because the prisons were totally full. Many people feel that in order to be rightful, this cannot be allowed. In addition to this, in our country it is tolerated to steal up to 15 000 dinars without being arrested or anyhow punished. The idea of restoring the death penalty also has some supporters. According to their opinion, if the sentences were harder, less people would commit crimes.
On the other hand, there are some arguments against more severe punishment. People point out that the main reason for theft is poverty and the poor steal due to the high level of unemployment. They suggest that the government should use public work as a punishment in those cases when people commit minor crimes because they are starving. Others oppose the capital punishment as they reckon that this kind of penalty is inhumane and against dignity. Furthermore, they think that it is not better than any other kind of murder.
All things considered, our country surely needs some changes, but I would not bring back the death penalty. In my opinion the government ought to build more prisons, doom people to public work, do something about the huge unemployment rate and should not allow petty thefts.
