Ineffective deterrent?

In recent years certainties once absolute and unquestioned have been exposed one after the other. Citadels have fallen and reputations lost almost irretrievably.

The integrity of the Catholic Church, the trustworthiness of the banks, the essential social contract at the root of successful, inclusive capitalism and the credibility and probity of governments have all been shaken to the roots.

One of the beliefs that has become almost unchallengeable in our liberal, almost non-judgmental world is that our penal systems must be as much about the future as they are a way for society to impose sanctions and deter others who might consider committing a crime.