>>14108983Great idea. An ideal society would have only three punishments. Death. Exile. Complete Forgiveness.
Other than holding cells for those awaiting assessment and due process, prisons would not exist at all. Upon trial a person would be either executed, or placed outside the borders of the state, or completely forgiven. Completely forgiven means that no punishment is incurred although a record may be held of the person's crime.
For example simple assault causing no substantial harm might be completely forgiven, depending on the circumstances. Done a second time however the person could be looking at being expelled from the state. Attempting to return to the state after being exiled could be grounds for execution.
Shit like shoplifting, petty fraud, disturbing the peace, willful damage, etc, may all be completely forgiven for a number of times. After so many strikes however the penalty would certainly be exile.
Rape, major theft, manslaughter would usually attract the exile penalty. Premeditated murder with no extenuating circumstances would certainly be execution in the vast majority of cases.
To this would be a rider regarding certainty of conviction. In cut and dried cases backed by unassailable evidence its straight out to the courtyard for a blind date with a brick wall. In cases where some doubts or unusual circumstances exist, then exile or complete forgiveness may be considered instead.
