It is argued that, in many nations, imprisonment is the most common strategy to deal with crime. In contrast, some people believe that education is a more viable way to reduce the crime rate. Although custodial sentences play an essential role in reducing crime, I firmly believe that better education is far more beneficial to tackle this problem for several reasons.
Admittedly, it is undeniable that custodial penalties have many benefits. Imprisonment is strict punishment for those who violate laws. This approach immediately isolates offenders from our society and create a safer living environment. Moreover, custody is the efficient barrier that prevents people from criminal behaviour. For example, a 5-year imprisonment will be applied for those who steal others’ possessions. Therefore, potential criminals will be deterred because people fear rigorous penalties. As a result, the number of guilty acts will be reduced in the short term.
On the other hand, despite the aforementioned benefits of imprisonment, I firmly agree that education is the most effective way to tackle crime, especially in the long term. The primary reason for this view is that while punishments are the solutions after crimes, education is a root-cause approach. In fact, many criminals stem from the lack of legal awareness or limited job opportunities. For instance, some people are convicted of stealing because they do not have enough money for their living, thereby stealing others’ properties. Although these criminal acts are unjustifiable, we can partly comprehend the root causes of this phenomenon. Thanks to education, people can easily find jobs. Furthermore, they can have the ability to distinguish right from wrong and avoid the violation of laws. Therefore, the crime rate can be alleviated by education.
In conclusion, while custodial punishments can reduce the crime rate due to their immediacy of criminal isolation and social warning, I firmly agree that education has a far more positive impact on solving crime because this approach significantly enhances individuals’ awareness and job opportunities.
