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Get Tough On Crime Essay

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This Abstract explores the process of offender processing in the criminal justice system, evaluates the effectiveness of “Get Tough on Crime” initiatives in the United States of America, and discusses the rehabilitation potential of the corrections system. It also analyzes the impact of mandatory minimum sentences on crime reduction, and proposes approaches to abolish such sentences, considering the implications of restorative justice for thieves. It defines and distinguishes between deterrence types, questions the possibility of Three-Strikes Laws, and presents the strengths of indeterminate sentencing. This abstract emphasizes and addresses key aspects of the criminal justice perspective.

Keywords: Journey of an Offender, Get Tough on …show more content…

The sophisticated process of how offenders are processed through each stage of the criminal justice system reveals a complex network of policies, steps, and perspectives that aim to maintain social harmony and reduce crime rates. In this narrative essay, I will delve into the journey of an inmate through the system, evaluate the effectiveness of “Get Tough on Crime” measures, analyze the role of the corrections system in rehabilitation, and discuss mandatory minimum sentences. It also explores and questions the concept of punishment for theft, defines deterrence and discusses its types, considers the Three-Strikes Laws, and examines the advantages of moving from fixed to flexible …show more content…

This would involve a thorough overhaul in order to be successful. However, their impact on reducing crime is a matter of opinion. Critics argue that mandatory minimums remove judicial discretion, leading to disproportionately harsh sentences for non-violent violations. According to Wolf (2022), in certain instances, the position of a mandatory minimum sentence can restrict the magistrate’s ability to exercise diligence. A different strategy combines punishment with the principles of a process where the focus is on repairing the harm caused by a crime. As Schmalleger and Smykia (2020) noted, restorative justice is a structured approach to addressing lawbreaking, focusing on the process of healing the harm inflicted upon victims, criminals, and neighborhoods as a result of, or exposed by criminal actions. This addresses the needs of both the victim and the offender and might better effectively address the root causes behind criminal conduct. I believe that mandatory minimum sentencing might deter some individuals from committing crimes, but it does not lead to a significant reduction in the overall crime

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This process will ensure that each offender receives the proper punishment and that the community is satisfied with the decision. The offender-based models, retributive and utilitarian, does not help the victim recover. Restorative justice is designed

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It is believed that letting a criminal free from incarceration puts society at risk. Before the reform recidivism rates were high, scaring the public with the idea that criminals can reenter society. When comparing individuals who were sentenced to prison to those in diversion programs, those in diversion programs were more likely to stay out of jail while those who went to jail were more likely to have re-arrests. It was reported that 64% of the treatment sample were arrest-free over a two-year follow up period. Those in the diversion program had recidivism rates as low as 36%; this compares to the group who were given jail time with a recidivism rate of 54% (Parsons, Wei, Henrichson, Drucker, & Trone, 2015).

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However, the penalty stands to be only temporary. Studies have shown that only seventy-one percent of those released from prison are convicted of a serious crime within only three years after their releasement ( ). Is prison housing the criminals or teaching them? A correctional facility is built to correct and rehabilitate, however prison systems in America appear to be only a short stop before the production of the criminals grand plan. The majority of those who are sentenced to prison have a high rate of returning due to their difficulty in gaining a position with a self-sustaining wage and a lack knowledge on a life without crime.

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 Mandatory minimum sentencing policies were set into action with good intentions, but the law did not turn out as expected. The mandatory minimum sentencing acts were created to provide equality that every offender of the particular crime will serve the same punishment. This ensures that there will be no bias. They were expected to lower crime rates, because people will possibly think twice before committing a crime if the mandatory minimum sentence is five year or if they have been convicted before, they will not want to be incarcerated again for double the time. Judges cannot change the sentence.

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“Mandatory minimum prison sentences alter the criminal justice framework. They drain the control of the judiciary over punishing offenders and bestow quasi-judicial powers on police and prosecutors.” (Mirza, 2001, p.493) This will likely occur because it removes any discretion in regards to sentencing and eliminates the consideration of an individual’s circumstance or motive. This also does not take into consideration what happened before the crime.

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Mandatory minimums have long been a controversial topic in regard to the United States criminal justice system. Many people who are little to no threat to the public have received long and harsh sentences because of the mandatory minimums. The purpose of these laws was to help prevent future crime, deter people from drug use, and give violent offenders longer sentences. These legislative changes have caused the lengthening of sentences, truth in sentencing laws, and three-strike laws. Mandatory minimums require convicts to serve a minimum amount of time for certain crimes or because of their recidivism.

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Despite the fact that mandatory minimums can have negative consequences on first time offenders, I still think that justice is best served with “mandatory minimums” because it prevents judges from being too lenient with the sentences of serious crime. For example, if a violent person commits murder and the judge only sentences them to eight years because they are a first offender, many would agree that an eight year sentence for a murder is too lenient and could encourage the criminal to be a repeat offender. Another reason justice is best served with mandatory minimums is that it can prevent people from committing certain crimes because the consequences for committing the crime may be enough to deter them. For example, if somebody wanted to

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Our prison system is nothing more than a people mill, where more than hundreds of individuals go in for the crimes they commit, and they do not necessarily come out. Policymakers and the public see mass incarceration as a useful tool for a swift and stern justice system but mass incarceration, in fact, has a negative impact on crime and carries collateral consequences with it. Mass incarceration and

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As a result of the increasing animosity of law enforcement authority and justice officials within our society, it has become apparent that the time for Congressional action is now to aid in calming the social fire storm of recent social anti-police movements, increased deadly ambushes upon unsuspecting police officers, and hateful rhetoric in the form of rebellious movements. So where should our nation’s leaders begin? Professor Paul George Cassell J.D. professor of Law at the University of Utah and former Unites States federal Judge suggests by starting with a reexamination of congressionally mandated mandatory minimum sentencing. In Cassell’s publication titled “Sense and Sensibility in Mandatory Minimum Sentencing” Cassell argues the unreasonableness of forcing mandatory minimum sentencing upon state courts when oftentimes, the punishment far exceeds the severity and/or social impact of the crime. As he explains within the text, “In practice, statutory minimums can distort the processes and outcomes of the federal system.

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Deterrence is the belief that criminal sentences should be designed to discourage others from committing crimes. This perspective is closely aligned with fines and imprisonment, because both are seen as effective ways of discouraging criminal behavior. The idea is that if potential criminals believe that they will be caught and punished, they will be less likely to engage in criminal activity. Third, rehabilitation is the belief that criminal sentences should be designed to help offenders reform and reintegrate into society (Hoskins, 12). This philosophy is closely aligned with probation and community service, as both involve providing offenders with support and resources to help them change their behavior.

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Today our justice system has a multitude of options when dealing with those who are convicted of offenses. However, many argue that retributive justice is the only real justice there is. This is mainly because its advantage is that it gives criminals the appropriate punishment that they deserve. The goals of this approach are clear and direct. In his book The Little Book of Restorative Justice, Zehr Howard (2002), illustrates that the central focus of retributive justice is offenders getting what they deserve (p. 30).

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Firstly, the idea of making reparations for harm done is central to restoring pre-crime conditions. While the implementation of this goal has been difficult, its inclusions will certainly pave the way for future reforms based on restorative concepts. Secondly, appropriate types of correctional rehabilitations have proven to be effective given certain conditions. The transformation that can be achieved through this process can cause fundamental changes in people, relationships and communities further lowering repeat offences. And thirdly, as opposed to retribution, deterrence is the forward-looking use of punishment.

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