aussie, you’re 100% correct. If they are innocent, they should be freed and if they are not innocent, they should get what they deserve. (That reminds me, who said this quote: “Don’t worry about what you don’t have, just be happy you don’t get what you deserve?”) No, I wouldn’t want anyone selling drugs to my kid. The thing that people are worried about is that if they were innocently trying to do a favor for someone, that person should be punished, not them. The problem is that who knows if they will have a fair trial or if that person will be brought to justice? Besides which, just to argue, prison is not a halachically recognized form of punishment.
~a~