Essay Sample on Prison Works

Introduction

In the past, prisons were used to punish people, and they were substitutes for capital punishment. According to the utilitarian theory of punishment, detention should discourage people from doing wrong. It is one of the ways of ensuring that a society is in order and happy since people are not committing any offenses because of the fear of punishment. It is a way of pursuing good for both the offender and society. The retributive principle, on the other hand, punishes people since they deserve to pay for their crimes according to the law. According to this theory, punishment is a form of instilling morals in the community. The argument is that offenders should suffer for contravening the law. Therefore, despite the differences between the principle to approach crime with, prison works for the good of society.

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According to Howard, prison works, but that is not how to reduce crime. Despite an increase in the jail population, the rate of crime has been on the decrease since 1995 (Travis, 2010). The 45% fall in crime has been the highest since the world war. Howard argues that people in prison cannot commit crimes. The incapacitation effect influences this logic. However, to cut the crime rate by at least 1%, there needs to be a 25% increase in the jail population (Travis, 2010). The incapacitation effect works since people in prison cannot commit a crime, and it also inhibits the chances of them committing crime after their release (Travis, 2010). However, this effect has no real public gain since it affects the families of the offenders.

To determine what works, the deterrence theory should be put into consideration. Creating an atmosphere where people obey the law due if they know the consequences of doing wrong. Therefore, if people are aware that committing a crime will land them in prison, there will be reduced crime rates and more moral obligation to do what is right. However, deterrence assumes that people have control over their actions. This approach lacks merit especially when the punishment is not severe. The method should work on ensuring that people do not get away with crime due to the lack of severity in punishment. Therefore, deterrence cannot be used as a way to reform a community if the law is not applied severely and with certainty.

The public feels that prison has not been working for their good. Most people think that the correctional systems should be structured in a way that helps the offenders become straight after their convictions. For prisons to stop appearing like expensive ways of creating peace in society, there should be a way to ensure complete rehabilitation. This approach will ensure that the person is acceptable in the community and their family. Rehabilitation is successful when the person is allowed to learn new skills while in prison. Equipping prisoners with new abilities increase their chances of survival in the outside world since they will be eligible for employment. According to Clarke, the only way prison will cease to be a waste of public resources is when prisoners are not denied their liberties (Whitehead, 2019). Thus, the rehabilitation method is useful since it ensures that convicts are accepted back to society.

The effect of prison is felt on the family of the prisoners and their employment. Incarceration affects the life chances of an individual since it is difficult for them to get a job. Rehabilitation, therefore, has to aim at improving the quality of life for the prisoners. Various ways to improve the life chances of a person is to reduce the recidivism rates and advance their vocational success. This facilitates the general adjustment in the community and also promotes the opportunities of a person utilizing the skills they learned in prison without being judged by the community. Additionally, measures such as parole can be engaged to ensure that people do not return to crime. This means that rehabilitation and determent are among the theories that are effective in ensuring that prison works.We can discover what works by analyzing the life of a prisoner after they leave prison. The contribution of the society is also essential since they are the people living with the ex-convicts. Delivering what works requires initiatives such as the Green Paper to be adjusted to consider the life of prisoners after conviction (Whitehead, 2019). For crime rates to decrease, prisons must be set in a way that protects the liberties of the prisoners despite the need to punish them. Therefore, the most effective forms of punishment are utilitarian since they give the convicts another chance at life after their release. For a prison to work, the system must ensure that it adds value to the community as well as the offenders. Additionally, the justice system must facilitate quick and effective delivery of punishment for crime rates to reduce. This is the only way that can ensure that determent is useful.

What works is vital since it influences the correctional model that the justice system will adapt. Without strong criminal laws, the increase in the number of prisoners will continue to be experienced. This is because jails are comprised of people who are convicted and those whose cases are awaiting trial. The increase in the jail population can be attributed to the cases in their pre-trial stages. Additionally, the rehabilitative impact that prisons have must be practical. Rehabilitation should ensure that the rates of recidivism are reduced. The chances of going back to crime can be limited through follow-ups by the correctional facilities administrations to ensure that former convicts are accepted by society. In the current form, prisons are not working. The rates of re-offending are at 60% (Travis, 2010). The system should adjust to ensure that employment does not lock out people with minor criminal records. Hence, what works matters.

Conclusion

Conclusively, what works depends on the policies set in place by the government. The utilitarian and the retributive approaches utilized must have an impact on society as well as on the convicts. However, rehabilitation is the most valid form of correction since it considers the life of a prisoner after jail. It ensures that they can live well with other members of society and excel in employment and other vocations. The incapacitation effect is not sufficient since it only redistributes the number of criminals in a community. It ignores some of the factors that drive crime rates thereby creating an influx of prisoners in jail. Discovering what works requires the government to interact with members of the community since they are aware of the effects of crime as well as imprisonment. Additionally, what works matters since families of the prisoners are affected especially when there is no conviction. The employment chances of an ex-convict are also reduced, and the government must come up with ways to make prisons work.

References

Travis, A. (2010). Howard is right: 'prison works' - but this is no way to cut crime. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/dec/07/michael-howard-prison-works-analysis [Accessed 1 Apr. 2019].

Whitehead, T. (2019). Prison works say Home Secretary. [online] Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8201914/Prison-works-says-Home-Secretary.html [Accessed 1 Apr. 2019].