Ethics Focus: Should We "Hurt" or "Help" Offenders

Essay

Ethics Focus: Should We "Hurt" or "Help" Offenders?
Offenders are tried and convicted of all types of crimes, ranging from passing bad checks and theft of property to planning and carrying out the murder of another person. As human beings we often feel that those criminals who physically harm an innocent victim should themselves experience similar pain. While our laws, except in capital cases, do not support an "eye for an eye" justice, human desire to punish those who commit acts of violence against us runs deep throughout human history. There are other persons who believe we should attempt to understand why criminals, even violent ones, act the way they do and try to correct their behavior. These persons would be more supportive of encouraging and helping offenders to change into law-abiding, productive citizens. They would be more supportive of rehabilitation than punishment.
-What might be a just balance between punishing and helping offenders to change?