Discussion Post: History of Criminal Law and Punishment
Western societies have been punishing criminal actors since ancient Greece. This begs the question of whether or not punishment is an effective means of crime control and recidivist reduction. As you explore the balance of freedom vs. security and the history of criminal punishment, be willing to think of new ways to address and deter criminal behavior.
1) Respond to this prompt if your last name begins with the letters A through L: Detail the history of criminal law. List and explain the major forces that created U.S. criminal law. Your response must weigh the challenge between keeping people safe and protecting individual liberties. Provide an opinion of whether or not criminal law provides the most effective way to deal with crime and recidivism. Offer suggestions for improvement to the current criminal law system within which we operate.
2) Respond to this prompt if your last name begins with the letters M through Z: Explain the history of punishment and its goals. Your response must detail the origins of punishment, how notions of what is "appropriate" punishment is for a given circumstance over time, and an analysis of the effectiveness of modern punishment methods and schemes.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.