It would be a good idea to let the VICTIM have a say in the punishment process...a guy is out, and what happens to the perp has no value to the victim!
Example: Mutherhubbard steals my lawnmower and gets caught?...Yeah, you will be mowing my yard until the debt is paid and I am satisfied.....
Some god cursed cracked/drunk Mutherhubbard murders my kid or Wife or Parents in a home invasion?? ...same deal......the Victim should have a bit of input as to the severity level of the punishment?...
Three avenues available is all: ...The victim could in Christian charity forgive the person outright and let him walk away...Or, a victim could allow the courts to decide the fate of the perp in accordance to existing precedence...,
Or...the Victim could, have the perp turned over to him to do with what he pleases....
I like the third option....Let the victim have a say.....even if its for a stolen CC or car or vandalism or something..let the victim have a go and decide what the work off is...
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Note to perps: You'd do well to steal my lawnmower...we would probably become friends...other than that, kill my Family member? Court sentences for to Let me do to you as I please? Yeah...tragically, not gonna go well for you, I'm not as forgiving as some...Unless you can really mow some grass or rake some leaves...