Great questions. Without punishment as the goal, it’s not really deterring future or repeat offenders. The clearer idea here is that offense in the first place is seen as a mental health issue. We detain, which is harmful by RSE standards, only when necessary to decrease harm to others and only to the level of required detainment. The goal is to be as humane as possible while protecting the others. So, this is not a traditional deterrent we are used to in society now. The other possibility is that detainment could be longer then are traditional system, because it’s not set as a punishment, but as a protection from harm to others, so even a minor violent crime could lead to lifelong detainment if it is deemed necessary. I know that gives a lot of power to those with authority to judge or weigh potential harm, but if detainment is humane and not dehumanizing, it wouldn’t be awful to be locked away for a lifetime. It would be like living in a community that is monitored for your safety and others’ safety at all times.

very thorough write-up

I appreciate it greatly

curious about the role of deterrence