In recent years, many have questioned the effectiveness of prison. While there are several views against this punishment, I would argue that offenders should be in prison due to ensuring the social security, and remedy the consequences for victims or society.
On the one hand, there are various reasons why prison might be inefficient to punish the criminals. One of these is that it can waste the state budget. That is to say, governments usually spend large amount of money to build jail, and meet inmates’ basic living demands. As a result, this could increase the burden on national finances and exacerbate social inequality, especially for taxpayers. For example, in Sweden, the government create a convenient place for criminals, where they can enjoy some kind of entertainment and adequate diet routine. These benefits might be prohibitively expensive and have no punitive effect on wrongdoers. On the contrary, good-hearted citizens usually have to devote a part of their income to pay taxes to serve those activities. For this reason, many oppose using prison to punish lawbreakers.
On the other hand, I support the view that prison is one of the best penal methods for offenders. First of all, this punishment can ensure the social security by isolating individuals who cause harm to society. To be more specific, when inmates are confined in jails, the general public can be safer because they do not have to face unexpected dangers such as rape or theft. It also sends a strong message to would-be criminals that every illegal act can become the cause of losing their freedom. For instance, the authorities need to detain the murderer to prevent it from becoming a serial murder case. Secondly, prison can be considered as a punishment that helps to remedy the consequences of prisoners’ actions. They must repay the victims or society by devoting their efforts and money, which can alleviate the damage they have caused.
In conclusion, the use of penal institution is controversial issue in the modern era. Although some oppose this punishment measure due to its non-effective impact, I personally believe that can bring numerous benefits, including protecting social safety and regain justice for victims or society.