In contemporary times, every time you turn on the television or flip through the pages of the newspaper, you learn about victims of crimes. To reduce this escalating issue, people often argue that punishment for offenders should act as a deterrent to others. Some people are in favour of rehabilitation of criminals, while others argue that prisons are a place for punishment of offenders. Personally, I strongly agree with the former view because everyone deserves a second chance to correct their mistakes. This essay will discuss both sides with arguments.
It is certainly undeniable that cells are a place where violent offenders experience the consequences of their violent offence. People argue that small confines should be tougher for prisoners who commit assault, murder, rape, armed robbery, or other violent crimes, because it is the right of victims’ families to get justice for their loved ones. In addition, strict penalties may discourage others from committing the same offence, which in turn will minimize the crime rate in our surroundings.
However, I don’t believe these arguments stand up to scrutiny. To begin, correctional facilities for minor offenders such as shoplifters and rule breakers should be available to rehabilitate them rather than keeping them in the same cells as murderers. This way, authorities can help them to educate themselves through vocational training that will help them to become a good citizen for society when they will come out of the bars.
In conclusion, although some people believe there are benefits of strict punishment, I believe that the best way to help prisoners is to educate them.