What have sociologists removed from our judicial system?
Sociologists have totally removed the fear of the Law from the judicial system. The context links that removal to a lack of respect for consequences: kids no longer fear the Law, offenders expect a slap on the wrist, and they return to the street. Israel was instructed to create public fear through visible judgment.
Les teaches that sociologists have totally removed from our judicial system the kind of fear described when "all Israel shall hear fear." He says our kids have no fear of the Law, can do almost whatever they want, know they will only get a slap on the wrist, and then be back on the street. He illustrates with a friend in post-World War II Japan who said there was practically no crime because the police dealt with offenses on the sidewalk, and the courts had little to do. Les then connects this to Israel's instructions: a no-good, rebellious, drunkard son was to be turned over to the authorities and stoned to death. Stoning was awful and an obscenity. The body was hanged on a tree as a public spectacle so everyone would know how Israel dealt with such an individual. People may call that barbaric, but Les notes they did not have the crime problem we have.