I always thought "send a message" and "set an example" were total bullshit excuses to over-penalize someone for anything and done purely out of spite. They say it's a deterrent, but it's nothing more than unequal justice that deteriorates faith in the system.
It's also like "I caught you with a recreational drug which could have been a gateway drug to ruin your life. So I'm going to ruin your life by throwing the book at you and blemishing your permanent record."
If you're "making an example" of someone and "sending a message", you are flat out admitting that you are pushing forward an unjustly harsh punishment for the sole purpose of controlling other through fear.
You are flat out admitting that what you're doing has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with tyranny.
I always thought "send a message" and "set an example" were total bullshit excuses to over-penalize someone for anything and done purely out of spite. They say it's a deterrent, but it's nothing more than unequal justice that deteriorates faith in the system.
It's also like "I caught you with a recreational drug which could have been a gateway drug to ruin your life. So I'm going to ruin your life by throwing the book at you and blemishing your permanent record."
If you're "making an example" of someone and "sending a message", you are flat out admitting that you are pushing forward an unjustly harsh punishment for the sole purpose of controlling other through fear.
You are flat out admitting that what you're doing has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with tyranny.