Weighing justice and vengeance — from Boston to Cleveland to Philadelphia

Horrific crimes deserve fitting punishment.

Lately we’ve had no shortage of the former: a Boston bombing on a beautiful marathon day, news of a decade-long ordeal for three women held captive in a Cleveland house of horrors, a Philadelphia doctor who twisted his oath by murdering helpless infants.

When justice doesn’t seem quite enough, is vengeance the only thing that will do?