He shouldn't be hung for just bringing drugs into the country, like they weren't there in the first place. Maybe a couple years in prison. But doing drugs is ultimately the user's choice, whether pressured or not. Some people do it because their lives suck and they want to get away from it for a while, its just like drinking or taking a smoke. How would you like it if you went outside of a bar to light one up and someone wanted to kill you for it? Now if he raped someone, or commited homicide he should be extremely punished, work him till death, or torture him till he's dead, and if they're not sure whether he is or not just beat him some more. That's the only time I think some one should be killed for crime.

Let me see now, someone commits a crime. He goes to jail. He gets accomodation, food, drinks, toilet etc at the expense of tax payer money while learning his so-called lesson there. WOW! this is awesome! might as well I go do a crime and get thrown in jail and having all my needs taking care off instead of working my ass off for some money sucking grey suit BOD. Nice...

Well, in all fairness, southeast Asian prisons aren't that great. Still, you all forget something:
HE BROKE THE LAW. HE MUST BE PUNISHED ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THAT NATION.

Exactly, the punishment may not be "fair" but he was more than well aware of the consequences, and should therefore have to face them.

His brother may have been in dire straights but there is always better ways to get money than by selling drugs, or importing them anyways.

Yeah, really. Worst comes to worst, sell your blood and sperm, and maybe an organ.

Which takes us back to my initial statement that they are stupid.

So by that logic, those selling the heroin are those who prey on the weak minded, and are even MORE despicable.

The first purpose of the system should be rehabillitation rather than retribution.

The offender goes to prison, he gets rehabillitated, he won't reoffend. He comes out of prison and becomes a positive rather than a negative additon to society. Surely that's a more intelligent and sophisticated approach to criminal justice that what you've proposed.

The first purpose of the system should be rehabillitation rather than retribution.

The offender goes to prison, he gets rehabillitated, he won't reoffend. </font>[/QUOTE]That doesn't make sense. If the opportunity cost of commiting a crime is spending time being talked to be a counseller or rehab program, and the marginal benefit is a HUGE increase in the offender's standards of living, what's to stop him from recommiting?

Well, the current system hardly works. 60% of up to two year sentences re-offend in the UK. They haven't learned anything. With rehabillitation, at least the offender gets the chance to reform.

I admit that there are some people who can't be rehabillitated, but surely we owe to those who can reform to at least try.