Their society is pretty strict when it comes to matters like that. Plus, given that anyone strolling down the street is likely being seen or recorded by half a dozen cameras at any given time, and you've got the makings for a fairly short trial!
In any case, heinous crimes (murder, rape, or any crime which could cause harm to large groups of people) generally result in death sentences, but only if PROVEN beyond the shadow of a doubt. Most other crimes (theft, assault, minor crimes in which no one is greatly harmed) result in incarceration, which is nothing life the crap we have here. There's no lounge, weight room, library or cable television in the jails on that world. Think of it more as "indentured servitude to the State". Once the sentence is up, the violator is free to return to society.
If there is sufficient evidence to prove that someone did a heinous act (multiple witnesses, physical evidence, video documentation, etc), and a sentence of death is handed down, then the convicted generally has a few weeks before he or she is put to death. Troublemakers in their world, just as in nature, are usually punished by the rest of the group/society.
We humans wouldn't stand a chance of surviving in their world. We're way too soft.
--JMH
Received on Mon Apr 07 2014 - 18:02:46 CDT