Are not all criminals disturbed in one way or another?

Question

We judge and punish people's acts for a specific event, i.e., murder, rape. But, each one of us has a history behind themselves. Our lives are not just snapshots, but more like a movie.

We all are the product of our background, upbringing and natural talents, or lack thereof. Therefore, when someone commits a criminal act, shouldn´t we all - society as whole - be considered responsible?

Should we limit the freedom of that person not as a form of punishment, but rather as a means of reeducation and restitution, if possible?

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Answer 1

Not all criminals are disturbed, but society itself is in many ways disturbed and have, in the name of "moral", created a huge number of ridiculous laws which makes a lot of good  people criminals. Huge sections of s*x-laws, drug-laws etc. ( an 18 year old having s*x with a 15 year old is a criminal. Possession of even a small amount of drugs, for own use, makes you a criminal ) are examples of laws which punishes people who has never hurt anyone or anything. So indeed society is responsible.

For the bad criminals, even murderers and rapists, the only scenario which gives sense, is reeducation and rehabilitation. The present laws and punishments are born from hate and revenge and not from intelligence or insight. When criminals leave the jails they are more bad than when they went to jail. It`s not healthy for society,- it`s plain stupid.

Answer 2

I do agree with what you are saying, especially your last paragraph.

If our prisons/penal facilities were geared to re-educate, teach and train offenders, and offered them the opportunity to make some kind of restitution to their victims and society, I believe there would be fewer repeat offenders.