Harsh Punishment or Alternatives: Which is the Better Crime-prevention?

• Author: Helmut Kury
• Pages: 91-99

91

JURIDICA INTERNATIONAL 25/2017

Helmut Kury

Professor emeritus

University of Freiburg

Harsh Punishment

or Alternatives: Which is the

Better Crime-prevention?

1. Introduction

Empirical studies over the past few decades have repeatedly shown that traditional solutions to crime prob-

lems – i.e., strict punishments – do not substantially reduce the conf‌l icts caused by crime. Against this

background, historical practices such as mediation and restorative justice have re-emerged*1. R. London

has characterised the shift thus: ‘Restorative justice as both a philosophy and an implementation strategy

developed from the convergence of several trends in criminal justice: the loss of conf‌i dence in rehabilitation

and deterrence theory, the rediscovery of the victim as a necessary party, and the rise of interest in commu-

nity-based justice.’*2 Concen trating on harsh punishment of of‌f enders while ignoring the background for the

criminal behaviour and the needs of victims of crimes, using them only as witnesses during court proceedings,

is less ef‌f ective in crime prevention than ‘alternatives’ are.*3 Advocates of mediation and restitution in the

aftermath of crime often refer to historical examples.*4 Intensive, sweeping regulation of restitution in most

cultural regions seems to be a generally identif‌i able phenomenon. As S. Sharpe points out, ‘[r]eparation has

been a vehicle for justice throughout human history’.*5

Just a few years ago, John Braithwaite, one of the fathers of contemporary restorative justice, wrote: ‘Of

all the great institutions passed down to western civilization by the Enlightenment, none has been a greater

 See, for example, K.J. Hopt, F. Stef‌f ek (eds). Mediation. Rechtstatsachen, Rechtsvergleich, Regelungen. Tübingen, Germany:

Mohr Siebeck ; G. Johnstone, D.W. Van Ness. Handbook of Restorative Justice. Cullompton: Willan ; E. Weitekamp,

H.-J. Kerner. Restorative Justice: Theoretical Foundations. Cullompton; Portland, Oregon: Willan ; DOI: https://doi.

org/./; F. Dünkel et al. (eds). Restorative Justice and Mediation in Penal Matters: A Stock-taking of

Legal Issues, Implementation Strategies and Outcomes in  European Countries ( volumes). Mönchengladbach, Germany:

Forum-Verlag Godesberg ; H. Kury, A. Kuhlmann. Mediation in Germany and Other Western Countries. Forthcoming

().

 R. London. Crime, Punishment, and Restorative Justice: From the Margins to the Mainstream. London; Boulder, Colorado:

First Forum Press , p. .

 H. Kury. Zur (Nicht-)Wirkung von Sanktionen – Ergebnisse internationaler empirischer Untersuchungen. – Soziale

Probleme  (), pp. –; H. Kury, A. Scherr (eds). Zur (Nicht-)Wirkung von Sanktionen. Immer härtere Strafen –

immer weniger Kriminalität? Centaurus Verlag .

 L. Frühauf. Wiedergutmachung zwischen Täter und Opfer. Eine neue Alternative in der strafrechtlichen Sanktionspraxis.

Gelsenkirchen, Germany: Verlag Dr. Mannhold , p. .

 S. Sharpe. The idea of reparation. – G. Johnstone, D.W. Van Ness (eds). Handbook of Restorative Justice. Cullompton:

Willan , pp. – (see p.  in particular).

https://doi.org/10.12697/JI.2017.25.10