Refusing to "understand" and "explain" has always been part of the Sarkozy discourse. Explaining is excusing ; criminals are criminals, pretty much a predestined status, and thus addressing root causes, and rehabilitation, are completely out of Sarkozy's agenda.

It is well known early parole helps diminishing recidivism ; but "letting criminals out" is a no-no.

The "victim" concept is so important to Sarkozy (All of us can be victims, which works very well for such a demagogue) that he is trying to introduce some sort of trial for the mentally insane who are thus criminally irresponsible. Quite an absurdity, an attempt to revert hundreds of years of moving the justice system away from the concept of revenge...

Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères