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Eye-For-An-Eye Justice System

Issue

   Incarceration seems to be an ineffective form of deterrence with prisons being overcrowded and many returning to a life of crime. Would an eye-for-an-eye policy be more effective as a punitive measure than the current prison system?
Eye-For-An-Eye (Primary Principle)
 
   The eye-for-an-eye principle reflects an ideal that is not based on vengeance, but rather represents a fair and just balance of life through the proper reinforcement of one's actions. Jesus may have referred to this when he said:
                         So in everything, do to others what you would have them
                              do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
                                                                                         Matthew 7:12
 
   This passage reflects the eye-for-an-eye principle that should be used as a guide for administering proper justice. For example, people should not steal from others unless they want to be stolen from, or strike anyone unless they want to be stricken in return. It is a simple principle to live by and, by doing so, helps prevent a person from committing a crime.
Eye-For-An-Eye (Balanced Reconciliation)

   For adequately resolving criminal acts, instead of using incarceration that has shown to be ineffective, perhaps a better means of addressing the situation would be for the transgressor to undergo the same experiences as the victim.

   For example, if a person stole a bicycle then that person not only has to return the item to the original
owner, but also give the victim something equivalent in return. If a person punches someone then that person should be punched in similar manner by the authorities and to the same degree.

   By returning similar action, the transgressor will learn that nothing will be gained through the act and will directly experience what it is like to be a victim of the crime. To imply greater or lesser reinforcement than the act itself would be an unfair and unjust handling of the situation. Incarceration should only be used if an eye-for-an-eye equivalent measure is not feasible, or does not fully balance the situation.

   In general, the eye-for-an-eye equality rule will help people put things in perspective and everyone will know beforehand what would happen to them if they carried out an illegal act.
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