Andrew A. Bain: From punishment to discipline — a better future for Florida corrections

As a former state attorney and current circuit judge in Florida, I have spent years witnessing the consequences of crime, addiction, mental illness, family instability and poor choices. I have also seen the limitations of a correctional system that too often measures success by confinement alone rather than transformation and reduced recidivism. I believe there should be an option for mercy for those who need a second chance and earn one. I also believe in consequences for those who do not. The public expects accountability, and rightly so. Individuals who break the law must face consequences, but accountability and punishment are not the same thing. Punishment looks backward to the act of violating the law. Discipline looks forward to what a person can learn from past deeds and how to chart a path toward correction. For too long, discussions about corrections have centered on expanding the toolbox of punishment. While sanctions are necessary, adding more tools of punishment does not n