Some people believe that there should be fixed punishments for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for commiting it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the...

Punishing who commit crimes is crucial to maintain law and society. Some people hold the view that specific penalty should be given to a certain kind of crime. Whilst other people subscribe to the idea that motivation of an illegal action should be taken into consideration when it comes to punishment.

On the one hand, a fixed punishment for each type of crime would help easily decide the penalty and save a lot of time for people. This system may improve the judgment efficiency. Since the punishments for each crime are all written in the law book reaching the punishment conclusion would be a lot easy and quick. There no need to waste time to discuss or think about the penalty for illegal action. Furthermore, this idea would make people to think twice before commit any crimes. This is because there will be no changing in the punishment when people commit an offence.

However, people could accidently commit crimes due to unwanted reason such as self-defense, blackmail,.. so the punishment should be flexible. By way of illustration, there are 2 murderers. One killed people for revenge and the other one killed the burglar who hit him to steal his property by accident. If both of them receive the same penalty would be so unfair. Because the reasons self-defense is more acceptable than revenge.

All things considered, while fixed penalty may save times when it comes to punishment conclusion and this system would deter from commit crimes. I am of the opinion that flexible punishment should be apply to people because they may be force to do illegal things.