M. Foucault and Prisons

Written in April, 2011

One of the main duty of the state is to secure its citizens in an order in which they live in safety and have their liberties and other fundamental rights which are arranged by law. Maintaining this order can be achieved by several ways including the punishing criminals who breach the law (Van den Haag, 1991, p.3). In this view, what is the purpose of punishment? It can be deterrence, transformation of criminals, revenge of the authoritarians or protecting community from evil people. The purpose of punishment has changed several times during the history due to changing conditions of communities and states. From the beginning of nineteenth century the aim of imprisonment as a punishment method was to change criminals to normal citizens. This essay will argue this issue in different aspects.

Basic Construction of Crime and Innocence

Written in March, 2011

In trials, while one side tries to prove the guilt of the other side, which is prosecution, the other side tries to prove its innocence, the defence. Both sides strive to construct their own stories in a consistent way around the evidences. Each side can have different strategies in the constructing of their stories but story of the prosecution must involve presence, action and state of mind to prove the guiltiness of the defendant with evidences. In return to this, defence struggle to challenge or deny presence, action or state of mind which has demonstrated by the prosecution.