Some People Believe That There Should Be Fixed Punishments For Each Type Of Crime
Essay topic
Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.
Band 9 IELTS essay sample 1
Punishing people who commit crimes is crucial to maintaining law and order in a society. Some people believe that there should be a fixed punishment for each crime. Others disagree. In their opinion, factors such as the motive behind the crime too should be considered while deciding on the punishment. Although I agree that people who commit crimes should be given exemplary punishment, in my opinion, the judge should also consider the circumstances that led to the crime.
If there is a fixed punishment for each crime, all people who commit murder will get the same punishment. This system will certainly improve judgement efficiency. Since the punishment for each crime has already been given in law books, judges only have to pronounce the verdict. Also when the punishments are consistent with regulations established previously, there will be fewer law conflicts.
Unfortunately, the aforementioned arguments in favour of a fixed punishment are not as logical as they sound. Human behaviour is almost always influenced by circumstances. Crime is no different. It is possible for two people who commit murders to have entirely different motives. Perhaps one of them committed the act with the deliberate intention to kill while the other was merely trying to save himself from the attacker while committing the murder accidentally. If there are fixed punishments for murder, both of them will receive the same punishment. This is unfair. It is also unfair to give juveniles the same punishment as adults. It is thus evident that serious ethical issues may arise if fixed punishments are given for each crime.
In my opinion, while awarding the punishment the judge should consider not only the severity of the crime but also the circumstances that led to it. To conclude, it does not make sense to have fixed punishment for each crime because no two persons who commit the same crime have the same motive.
Band 9 IELTS essay sample 2
Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.
Sample essay
Criminal activities disturb the safety and security of the society. According to some people, there should be pre-determined punishments for each type of crime. Others hold the opinion that the punishment should depend on the specific motive behind the crime. I agree with the latter view.
If there are fixed punishments for each type of crime, it will be easier for the judges to pronounce the punishment. They only have to refer the law book and say what punishment the convict should get. However, this system is essentially faulty. Fixed punishment means that someone who stole food because they are hungry will get the same punishment as someone who robbed the bank. Both are robberies and they will have the same punishment. In the same way, someone who committed a murder in self defense will get the same punishment as someone who committed a premeditated murder. This is not justified. Of course, the fixed punishment will speed up the criminal proceedings, but it will also put a lot of innocent people behind the bar.
By contrast, if the circumstances leading to the crime are considered before deciding the verdict, the innocent people will get justice. Not every person who committed a murder is a born criminal. Sometimes, a murder is committed in self defense or to protect someone you love. There is no criminal intent in this case. If the circumstances are not taken into consideration, a lot of people who committed crime in the spur of the moment will meet with harsh punishments. This should not happen in civilized societies.
To conclude, there are no valid reasons to have fixed punishments. This is an inherently faulty concept because many criminal acts are committed without any criminal intent. If there are fixed punishments, innocent people who err under the pressure of the moment will get the same punishment as hardcore criminals.
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