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Incarceration Pros And Cons

994 Words4 Pages

In an ideal world, there would be no crime, and we would all live harmoniously, but that does not seem to be a possibility now or anytime soon. Criminal activity has been around since the beginning of time, and the controversy of how to punish the offender began immediately after the first offense was committed. In the United States today there are endless offenses committed daily that violate a vast number of laws, and there is no disagreement that when someone breaks a law that there must be a consequence. The controversy arises over what type of sanctions should be applied when a criminal act is committed. Critics of prison alternatives feel that incarceration is the only real type of justice and are reluctant to explore more options. …show more content…

When an offender receives a jail sentence, he serves his time, but eventually, the sentence ends. Forty percent of those incarcerated commits another criminal act, and the cycle begins again (Families Against Mandatory Minimums). Prison alternatives such as probation and parole allow the offender to remain with his family, maintain employment, and retain financial independence. Conditions of these alternatives often include mandatory visits to a supervisor or officer which requires the offender to remain accountable. These alternatives to incarceration remove the necessity of reentry which is often problematic for the offender. Using programs that allow the offender to meet the requirements for his sentence while remaining in society reduce the probability of reoffending thus reducing overall crime in the …show more content…

To succeed, we must look beyond the actual crime and determine why it was committed; one such program exists in Vermont. It is a “reparative program” and once the offender is convicted the judge decides if the offender is a good candidate for the program, violent offenders are not eligible. If the offender accepts the offer of reparation, then a committee consisting of a trained coordinator and volunteers from the community have several meetings with the offender to create a plan of restitution. The goals vary by committee, but usually include the victim, if present, describing the impact of crime, allowing the offender to atone to the victim and the community, and to display steps toward improved behaviors to deter from recommitting additional infractions (Dzur 371-372). This type of program creates a pathway for the offender to reenter the community

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There are many problems, concerns, and issues that revolve around offender reentry within the United States, but there are also a lot a positive thing that can come from an offender being reentered into the community. In recent years, criminal justice professionals have begun looking to the community to act as the vehicle for handling the weaknesses of the criminal justice system. One of the biggest weaknesses with the criminal justice system is offender rehabilitation. Professionals believe that reentry programs should primarily be based on community intervention.

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Fifty-four months for Internet fraud is an extreme amount of time to reflect on fraudulent Internet transactions. Likewise, one month for sexual assault is an extremely short amount of time to reflect on an action of such force against another individual. In addition, especially with the obvious increase in incarceration in the United States since 1980(CITE 7), it seems that the United States' criminal justice system is incarcerating individuals just for the sake of incarceration, yet this is not helping to reduce America's crime

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These programs are cheaper than incarceration, and they can require the convict to pay part of the cost such as the substance abuse treatment. Convicts can continue working and caring for their families, which is very important. Prison space for violent criminals is freed up by keeping nonviolent and first time offenders in the community. The purpose for intermediate sanctions are used as another method of punishment to lower the pressure on probation departments and correction facilities.

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The current system that incarcerates people over and over is unsustainable and does not lower the crime rate nor encourage prisoner reformation. When non-violent, first time offenders are incarcerated alongside violent repeat offenders, their chance of recidivating can be drastically altered by their experience in prison. Alternative sentencing for non-violent drug offenders could alleviate this problem, but many current laws hinder many possible solutions. Recently lawmakers have made attempts to lower the recidivism rates in America, for example the Second Chance Act helps aid prisoners returning into society after incarceration. The act allows states to appropriate money to communities to help provide services such as education, drug treatment programs, mental health programs, job corps services, and others to aid in offenders returning to society after incarceration (Conyers, 2013).

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While I find both views on punishment convincing and effective in different ways, I believe that the reductivist approach to punishment is and will be the most effective to decrease levels of crime in society. People with alcohol, drug and mental health issues should be rehabilitated and should be taught right from wrong while in incapacitation, to protect the public from the particular offender until they do reform. While retributivism focuses on harming offenders to ‘teach them a lesson’, it will never have a positive effect as they are then taught a lesson by more violence which doesn’t resolve the crime they have committed. If offenders pay their time in prison and get support through treatments and programs provided by prisons, they can come back into society viewing the world in a different way. I also believe that with the support given to offenders who need that help, there will be considerate decreases of crime as criminals need specialist help to overcome the problems they have, as the reasons they have committed crimes such as robbery, theft, drug dealing, will be because of these problems and has a knock on effect to them becoming criminals.

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history has undeniably proven incarceration of the masses is not the answer to restoring justice in our communities. There is not one program or theory that will resolve all crime or criminal activity at all levels. The definition of crime is fluid as society, itself, defines crime, thus society creates crime. Those in society with the greatest power and status, in the majority of cases tend to be those with the highest incomes, are the most influential in defining and creating crime. Those same individuals are those who represent our political beliefs and agendas.

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Community corrections pursue to site offenders in the community while severing their sentences. These types of programs frequently allow the offenders to engage in work or even school during their prison term. The premise behind community-based corrections is that the rehabilitation of offenders can only occur in the community where they will eventually return. Subsequently, it is appropriate to try and provide rehabilitation in the community. While Community Corrections can be seen as giving offenders more privileges, it is important for our community because of multiple purpose as it provides offenders accountability, enhanced rehabilitation, and surveillance, it prevents recidivism, and is a positive alternative compared to the normal standards.

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What Should Be Done To Reduce Non-Violent Offender Incarceration?” In this essay, we will discuss how prison have long been over crowned with non-violent offenders for decades. The cost of incarceration for non-violent offenders has cost this country nearly two billion dollars a year. In the United States the cost catalyst is estimated at 175 billion dollars spent in prisons on crimes committed by non-violent Offenders. We imprisons 1.3 million in state prison 767,600 in city and county jails, also 205,000 in federal jail (Katel.

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1368 Words | 6 Pages

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Disadvantages Of Rehabilitation State Prison

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However, crimes are committed whilst in prison, such as drugs and assaults. Some critics say the ‘three strikes and you are out’ law where repeat offenders get a longer sentence are wrong, as the third strike could be a lesser crime such as public disorder. Nevertheless, if just incapacitation and no rehabilitation some critics say will be costlier to society as they will go out and reoffend and, they are not employed and pay taxes. Rehabilitation is also a punishment which should improve the offender's behaviour and stop them committing crimes. Advocates of rehabilitation state prison does not work; however, critics of rehabilitation state prison does work as the criminal cannot commit a crime against the public while incarcerated (Cavadino, 2007 p 36/56).

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