the primary reason is "the rule of law" in our western democracies.

meaning that the citizens devolve upon the State the functions of peacekeeping and administering justice, and that essential rights and duties are laid down in law. If you were to stand the argument on its head, and ask what would happen if people were free to administer justice themselves, then you see why due process is so important. Arbitrary arrest and indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial, use of excessive physical force and intimidation, torture, using prisoners as gratification through violence and abuse, unfair trails, mistaken identity, lack of evidence.. need i go on?

one of the most basic principles in jurisprudence is "habeas corpus" latin for "have you the body?" meaning, has a crime actually been committed? without this essential principle, you open the floodgates to anarchy and brutalism. Otherwise you'd be arresting people simply because you didn't like them, not because they'd done anything.

I think you'll find Ed will have something quite insightful to say on this subject

The only thing that I can add to what Taw said is that criminal acts are best dealt with by an impartial third party, ie the police, a judge and or jury.
Those effected by a crime have an emotional attachment which causes rash decisions in judgement. Which in turn will cause them to act on circumstantial evidence rather than hard facts.

my dad is a cop so ive quite a unique perspective on the word 'justice'. He's dealt with some preety high profile stuff in his time most recently helping enforce the new curfue in the town of Wigton, being one of the first in the country it was on the national news. Quite frankly i believe that we should be able to take the law into our own hands given the correct situation like attacking an intruder in the home.

I am the Master of Disaster!!!!!!!!

OK gotta explain sum more
This oral idea comes from a story(has to)
The story is about a guy who was robbed twice now he put fishhooks(sp????translation???) in his pocket(the hooks has poison on) and walks around hoping some pickpocket will try to rob him
Now I do and oral saying you shouldnt take justice in ur own hands


Edited by - sycho_warrior on 5/1/2004 1:48:00 PM

sw - do you speak africaans? (i dont)

yea its my mother language

where in south Africa do ya live, Joburg?
By grandparent live there, i am from Zimbabwe

No Caledon

of course, the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia would avoid all this. Punish the criminal by removing his offending hand, this guy won't have to walk around with poison fish-hooks in his pockets.