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RE: What Does Justice Look Like?
I certainly believe in punishment, but punishment should match the crime. We don't cut off the hands of people who are guilty of traffic violations, but we suspend their licenses if they drive under the influence of drugs are alcohol. Education has its place in rehabilitation, but it's not a panacea. It won't fix all problems if it fixes any. As for vigilantism, while it happens in the U.S., most of us have some aversion to its use. We'd prefer that the criminal justice system do its job.
I sometimes wonder if vigilantism would ever really work. Does it breed awe, or just more fear. I guess essentially, if you're a vigilante, then you're operating just as much outside of the law as the criminals are. I watched the remake of Death Wish recently, and whilst a fairly run-of-the-mill Bruce Willis remake, it still raised the question of vigilantes, and are the right or wrong quite well.
As long as we have opinions, society will always find itself divided in regard to these types of things.
There will always be vigilantes, I believe. But, yes, they are operating outside the law. The reason we have police forces and law enforcement agencies is so that the criminal element can be dealt with orderly. If everyone took matters into their own hands, we'd have anarchy.
I'm starting to question whether anarchy isn't such a bad premise. It's not always bad - just a way of thinking.