[yters]

The point of punishment is not a Skinner box to use operant conditioning to bring about desired behavior. People are punished as a clear, unambiguous message that "you did wrong". This is the most humane option because it treats criminals as moral agents with free will who can change and choose what is good. These other "progressive" approaches treat a criminal like an irrational animal or child that must be conditioned. Consequently, the criminal learns their moral intuition is wrong, and to act irrationally and not accept responsibility for his or her own actions. A just penal code with appropriate punishment is the most humane and dignified way to treat criminals.