DIGNITY AND RESPECT: THE AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’S TREATMENT OF ITS PRISONERS

Notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer terrorized and killed his victims in the 1980’s. Some argue that criminals like Dahmer who commit gruesome acts forfeit their right to be treated as a human being. I argue instead that while criminals like Dahmer should not be respected, they should be treated with dignity. Dignity is an inherent value assigned to a person because they are human beings. Respect, in the sense of admiration, is not inherently owed to all human beings. Respect is earned, and can be forfeited by criminals as a result of their wrongdoings. I propose ways that the American criminal justice system should be reformed so that we still treat criminals with dignity even if we don’t respect them.