This spells also the rejection of criminal rehabilitation, as if one will be punished for crimes not yet committed, how can they be rehabilitated? Once the notion that criminals cannot be "rehabilitated," becomes acceptable by the public, then it becomes easier to undermine programs and policies, like job training and schooling. It them is palatable to discriminate against people with criminal records in employment, housing, schooling, and reject the offenders' efforts at rehabilitation.
The problem is that Sarkozy ran on the idea of doing something about immigration and the rioting young people. Presenting a "galvanizing issue" diverts attention from the ideology of the candidate and the real agenda once in office. This is the tactic that Republicans mainly use - and Bush used it in 2004 with "gay marriage" and "terrorism."
It is well known early parole helps diminishing recidivism ; but "letting criminals out" is a no-no.
The "victim" concept is so important to Sarkozy (All of us can be victims, which works very well for such a demagogue) that he is trying to introduce some sort of trial for the mentally insane who are thus criminally irresponsible. Quite an absurdity, an attempt to revert hundreds of years of moving the justice system away from the concept of revenge... Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
