It is a cardinal Buddhist teaching that existence in any realm is inherently imperfect and unsatisfactory. This is often all too evident in this, our imperfect human society. We can try and make our lives and those around us more harmonious and happy by keeping the basic rules of morality. Unfortunately not everyone sees the wisdom of abiding by these rules and society must find some way of dealing with the lawbreakers in our midst.
Decent folk victimized by crime often feel an instinctive urge to seek vengeance.
We should pause and think carefully about this problem before giving in to an urge which in the last analysis arises from aversion. In most modern societies the usual way of dealing with lawbreakers is imprisonment. This is the community's expression of revenge for harm inflicted. It may seem to be justified when someone has done an evil, especially a violent, deed. But from a Buddhist understanding there is no necessity at all for society to impose retribution.