I am doing an essay for my college writing course essay and I was wondering what society thinks about criminals and should criminal get a second chance.

Everyone deserves a second chance.

I agree, everyone deserves a second chance, and God gives us that, but you are talking about society's rules and laws, the law not always gives second chances, sometimes people get lethal injections, in a perfect world no one would commit crimes or get sentenced to death, but this is not a perfect world, but from a religious point of view, yeah, everyone deserves a second chance.

Hello zito:

Nahhhh, fry 'em all.

excon

If they're as good-looking as excon and have paid their debt to society, yes.

Everyone deserves a second chance. If a person who has been convicted of a crime and has paid his debt to society, then why should we continue to make them pay for their indiscretion, (that is putting it nicely).

Yes, although I will say most deserve a second chance. A pedophile or a serial rapist or a child abductor/rapist/murderer do not deserve a second chance. Given a second chance, they will repeat.

My faith tells me I should give everyone a second chance. My brain, however, tells me to agree with shygrneyzs. Its somewhat individual. Are they reformed? Then heck yes! Do they just want another chance to harm? Then, heck no!

Maybe its just the "timing" of the second chance. Not everyone can be ready for that responsibility in their lifetime.

Well I think some people use up their second chance with their first chance. For instance, if some one robs two banks or breaks in to two houses before getting caught, I think they pretty much used their second chance already. But if that isn't the case then if they paid their dues to society, they should get another chance. I also agree with Shygrneyzs, when a crime of that magnitude is committed, then no, they don't deserve a second chance.

Depends on the crime and if the offender is repetative, who can determine what is a minor crime that an offender should get a second chance when someone got hurt or offended if it is taken to court then the police must have thought it needed punishment may be if no one got hurt or robbed or assulted then maybe, but someone always pays for it they don't get second chances why should the offender

Yes I believe criminals like everyone else deserves a second chance but what the question would be is where do they deserve to work out their second chance, whether that is in society or in confinement.

First... everyone is a criminal. Based on the laws of this country... You, Me, your mother and father... everyone we know... has committed a crime. You can't find one person, including yourself... who has never broken the law... PERIOD. The way it stands and the legal system, we are all vulnerable to being arrested for doing WHATEVER. Its illegal to spit on the ground... its illegal to jaywalk, its illegal to put up a Yard Sale sign, its illegal defend yourself, etc. I could write an essay on this BS.

Second... there is a difference between a "criminal" and someone who commits a crime.

So...you need to define what a "criminal is" and then we can go from there!

A "second chance" for what? It's not so much a question of a "second chance" but a question of doing one's time and paying the penalty for their crime. Once this is done, then life goes on. Of course, in some cases the crime may be so heinous and, consequently, the penalty so stiff that there is no life afterwards, such as with life in prison or a death sentence.

I really don't think most criminals should get a second chance. If someone breaks into my house and takes something they usually get a slap on the wrist. Most of the time they do not repay for the things they have stolen or damaged.

Depends but for most they should only get one more chance I think.. and something should be done about that they give criminals too much freedom these days

Sorry to post on an old question but I felt compelled to since I disagree so much with the dominant opinion here.

Petty criminals who have not been violent - fine give them a second chance. BUT violent criminals should NOT get a second chance. Why? Because by being violent they have proved themselves to be too much a risk to society. To give them a chance you are choosing to risk the lives of the innocent for the criminals benefit.
When the state of Florida decided to give John Couey a second chance, they choose to risk the life of Jessica Lunsford. Now you tell me, who deserved the mercy, Couey or Jessica?
Liberals in the prison system don't seem to understand the very evil of their mercy - that by choosing "mercy" they are choosing to let innocent people be murdered, and have blood on their hands.

Hello R:

I committed a violent crime when I was 19. Nobody got hurt, but they COULD have... I did some time, and I've never committed a violent crime again.

So, instead of living the productive life I had, and having the wonderful family that I do, and being able to answer questions here, I should have spent the last 45 years in the slam??

You wonder about who's blood is on who's hands. Me too.

excon

For anyone who is a Christian:

"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15"But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-22)

"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. " (Mark 11:25)

"If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4)

That's just in the Gospels and I could find more examples and believe me for anyone, holding grudges and holding back forgiveness does no good to anyone including yourself. As Carrie Fisher says, "Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

I would also say that especially for Christians, if you were born in the same family and brought up under the same circumstances and given the same chances that the offender was given, you would have done the same thing. Basically, I know it's hard to believe, but we aren't much better than those murderers and rapists out there.

Just something to think about.

Lamp

Not in every case...

Should Charles Manson get a second chance...


Should a child molestor get a second chance.. Would you want your child to be their second chance?