---
title: "Crime and punishment"
date: "2024-07-23T13:24:13+01:00"
modified: "2024-07-23T13:35:56+01:00"
url: "https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/res_perspective/crime-and-punishment/"
post_id: 4719
---

# Crime and punishment

What purpose might humanists see in punishment? Do humanists support the death penalty?

[Download humanist perspective](https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/Crime-and-punishment-humanist-perspective.pdf)

[Interview with humanist probation officer and pastoral carer Amy Waldon ](https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/res_films/providing-pastoral-support-to-prisoners/)

[Animation: Lex talionis and retribution](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50oOjQ8lrMU&list=PLLiykcLllCgPE0q9BiMexLFj-1rq9GUwX&index=32): Stephen Fry provides a humanist perspective on the potentially negative consequences of retribution

[Humanist Heritage article on the history of humanist pastoral care](https://heritage.humanists.uk/article/history-of-humanist-care/)