In today’s world, imprisonment is no longer seen as an effective method in reducing crime rates, as the number of re-offences by former prisoners is constantly rising. This essay will examine potential causes to this problem and offer promising solutions.
Although many believe that prison sentences act as a deterrent to committing future crimes, research suggests differently. For instance, in Germany, 55% of present offenders have a history of prior convictions, thereby reflecting the ineffectiveness of such punishments. This is mainly because incarceration simply removes criminals from society, rather than addressing the underlying problem, which is the behaviour and mindset of rule breakers. Education and rehabilitation can help overcome this issue by teaching offenders about the consequences of their actions as well as giving them insight on ethical practices. As a result of this,
criminals can be reformed into better civilians and therefore refrain from committing future activities against the law. An excellent example of this was seen in Norway, where focus on rehab was implemented recently. Norway recorded a substantial decrease of 20% in law-breaks, thereby further reinforcing the success of such practices.
Another reason why criminals continue to engage in unlawful activities after being released from prison is due to limited job opportunities as well as the discrimination faced by society. For instance, in the UK, various jobs demand a DBS check that displays the criminal record of a person. By easily identifying rule-breakers, the majority of employers discard applications submitted by known offenders. Consequently, criminals suffer from limited work placements and financial hardship, which in turn leads them to steal and commit other crimes in order to alleviate current burdens. This suggests that even innocent people of society play a significant role in crime rates by looking down on former prisoners. However, this discrimination can easily be combated by raising awareness of the struggles that criminals experience, thereby encouraging companies and institutions to employ offenders that seek employment. Furthermore, by offering support services and weekly group meetings, we can provide guidance as well as emotional assistance to criminals, making the transition into society easier.
In conclusion, while imprisonment reduces the number of offenders in the community, it does not address the root causes of offences. Through proper education and rehabilitation programs as well as providing financial and social support to criminals, we can reduce the re-occurrence of crimes as well as assist law offenders to become better people.