To what extent do law and punishment work in the interests of everyone?

law and punishment
  • the law applies to all regardless of background
  • courts have a variety of punishments available to them depending on the particular factors of each individual case
  • many are uncertain that punishment works
  • prisoners and prisons are divided into categories to protect society and those being punished
  • freedoms cannot be guaranteed, despite the law
  • government and government institutions sometimes operate beyond the law and degrade and torture those whom they believe to be a threat
  • the law is enforced by people and they can be fallible, prejudiced and dishonest
  • income can determine the outcome of a trial with better legal advice available for the more wealthy.