The Bahamas need long-term thinking on crime and violence issue

But when many individuals perceive, many times correctly, that their trials will not be heard in a timely manner and that they will be granted bail in due course, they scoff at the justice system, creating a wider ripple and sociological effect and mindset of lawlessness and contempt for authority at all levels.
We have lost much of the plot in our criminal justice system. Parents and teachers who deal with discipline can attest to author Mark Kleiman’s claim: timeliness and certainty of punishment often tend to be more effective than severity.
Alec MacGillis echoes Kleiman: “When the speed of repercussions drops, society loses a key deterrent against unlawful behaviour.”
Kleiman, who utilized insights from psychology, behavioral economics and organizational analysis, also appreciated the need for timely intervention through probationary, parole and other measures, including drug and alcohol treatment.