I’m curious about rehabilitation. I believe crime comes from access to resources and/or from a lack of emotional education (such as empathy, patience, and sympathy).
When I hear news stories of horrific crimes, I often start to wonder: what would have prevented it and how can we move on from it?
I don’t believe in the death penalty and I don’t believe in forced labor. I do believe “confinement” paired with education, food, comfort, and time to reflect is part of rehabilitation.
What does it look like in Star Trek? In other words, what does western culture see as the “epitome” of a rehabilitation center?
We probably get our best look at penal rehabilitation in Lower Decks’ “A Few Badgeys More”
We learn that Daystrom Institute has a facility dedicated to evil robots, but through therapy, and exploration of art, sports, and other hobbies and psych-evaluations they may earn parole, and from there re-enter society.
Peanut Hamper made it to parole, initially as a ruse, but actually ended up taking it seriously.
Agimus is lagging behind her, but also shows signs of sincere reform.
Honestly, while a lot of it was played for laughs, I really appreciated how it really was Star Trek’s optimism at its peak. People can be reformed, and are not sentenced to life in a cubical if they are capable of earning it.
