Would harsher punishments decrease crime rate?
Hello Jordy. I do believe that it would have a two part positive effect in lowering crime rates. First, harsher penalties will immediately result in offenders staying locked up longer. With more bad guys off the streets, crime rates would go down slightly. ( This applies to multiple offenders who dont see prison as a deterent now ). Secondly, and more long term than immediate effect, by having longer and harsher penalties, more and more people would start to realize that criminal careers would be doomed to failure and would start to consider the consequences of their actions before committing them.
