Show of Hands

I think the system revolves around rewarding the people on top.

Original intent was to keep us safe from the bad guys. Now I think it's both.

Definitely punitive. Everyone has their hand out and is sue crazy over the stupidest things.

To me the most important is to protect us from the criminals. Unfortunately our system doesn't reflect that. A lot of people are punished hard for something that didn't cause much or any harm to others.

Good question!

I want to think both, but from prosecuting "crimes" without victims to the early release of actual criminals for "good behavior", to allowing the unconscionable spying on innocent citizens, I don't see where much protecting is really getting done.

It's supposed to be both, but it seems to focus more and more on punishment.

I think it should be to protect citizens but it has turned into more of a punishment system

Definitely punishment, or we wouldn't fill our jails with drug users.

Both. Enforce and protect.

The only thing that can proactively protect you is you. The law simply displaces crime & punishes the offenders after the fact. "Protection" is a warm-fuzzy buzz-word that means nothing in this context.

Really both.

Well it obviously hits two birds with one stone, but I think protection is the primary reason. This is why we put them away from everyone else. Otherwise we might just send them all to rehab.