It is easy to view Mr. Radley as an evil or mean individual for locking Boo up, but as the Radley's were a wealthy and prominent family in the Maycomb community, Mr. Radley's choice is not surprising. He locked Boo up possibly for Boo's sake, but more than that, he locked Boo up to save the family's face in the community.
When Boo had the breakdown and stabbed his father in the knee he was locked up at the courthouse until arrangements could be made. Certainly it wouldn't have been seemly for the Radley's to have one of their own locked up in a mental institution, so the only option was to bring Boo home and keep him out of the public eye, thus saving the family embarrassment. This was the sum total of Boo's existence for many years.
Boo's brother on the other hand was perhaps more mean spirited. As the innocent actions of the children draw Boo out of hiding, we see him as a rational, caring, and nonthreatening individual. So why would the brother continue to keep Boo locked away? Why would he shut down Boo's attempt to communicate and develop friendship with the children by filling in the tree? Perhaps he was afraid that a society that was still intolerant of differences like skin color would be no more tolerant of Boo, but as Boo had clearly shown his growth, his brother did not, and one must ask why?
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