An increase in the number of heinous crimes being committed has caused a lot of countries to revaluate the efficacy of increasing prison sentences to deter crimes. While such a measure would be beneficial as criminals would be frightened to commit crimes, it is also indicative of resorting to non-rehabilitative methods of punishment and would not be effective in achieving the goal.
The most fundamental deterrent for any person committing a crime is that his actions involve consequences that would deprive him of his personal liberty. If the punishment were to be made longer, criminals would think twice before doing something wrong because if they were convicted they would be away from their family and friends for an extended period of time. Middle-Eastern countries strongly believe that longer prison sentences and harsher punishments are the best way to prevent crime. An example would be UAE’s laws on theft which provide a punishment of upto 15 years.
The drawback of a such a method is that criminals serving long prison sentences are often isolated and cannot be effectively reintegrated back into society upon their release. Scandinavian countries fiercely advocate for the use rehabilitative methods and not solely punitive methods of punishment. The rationale being that while punishment for a crime is necessary, rehabilitative methods such as early parole, and providing an opportunity for inmates to develop their skills are more effective. To illustrate this, let us look at survey conducted of prison inmates in India. The survey noted that the inmates lose their sense of identity and the concept of time due to the lengthy nature of their sentence. Moreover, it is difficult for them to obtain jobs after their release as they are unskilled to cope with the changing technology because they were unfamiliar with life outside four walls.
In conclusion, increasing the duration of prison sentences can be effective as being locked up in a prison for extended time periods scares a potential criminal. Conversely, longer sentences make it difficult for the convicts to contribute as valuable members to the society post their release.