Crime and Punishment

Good and evil intentions and actions

"Whoever is not hostile among the hostile, … him I call a holy man" (The Buddha, Dhammapada – Pali Canon)

Reasons for Crime – Poverty and Upbringing

"People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving." (Proverbs – Bible)

Reasons for Crime – Mental Illness and Addiction

"Always think compassion" (Dalai Lama)

Reasons for Crime – Greed and hate

"He who hates his brother walks in darkness" (Bible)

Reasons for Crime – Opposition to an Unjust Law

"An unjust law is no law at all" (St Augustine)

Types of Crime – (Christian) Theft

"Thou shalt not steal." (Exodus 20:15 – Bible)

Types of Crime – (Buddhist) Theft

"Second Precept: He should not steal nor incite another to steal." (Dhammikasutta – Pali Canon)

Types of Crime – (Christian) Economic need

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink" (Matthew 25:35 – Parable of the Sheep and the Goats – Bible)

Types of Crime – (Buddhist) Economic need

"Always think compassion." (Dalai Lama)

Types of Crime – (Buddhist) Hatred

"Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal." (Dhammapada 5 – Pali Canon)

Aims of Punishment – Retribution

"you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:23-24 – Bible)

Aims of Punishment - (Christian) Reformation

"When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise" Book of Proverbs (Old Testament)

Aims of Punishment - (Buddhist) Reformation

"When another person makes you suffer, he does not need punishment; he needs help" Thich Nhat Hanh

Methods of Punishment – Prison

"I was in prison and you visited me." (Matthew 25:36 – Parable of the Sheep and the Goats – Bible)

Methods of Punishment – Corporal Punishment

"Whoever spares the rod hates their children" (Proverbs 13:24 – Bible)

Methods of Punishment – Community Service

"our duty to, as to every being, is to help them to rise towards nirvana" (Dalai Lama)

Methods of Punishment – Death Penalty (Sanctity of Life)

"Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind" (Genesis 9:6 – Bible)

Methods of Punishment – Death Penalty (Utility)

"the greatest happiness for the greatest number" (Jeremy Bentham)

Forgiveness

"Jesus answered, 'I tell you, [forgive] not seven times, but seventy times seven times.'" (Matthew 18:22 – Bible)