People have different viewpoint about lawbreakers, some believe they should be sent to prision, whereas other think there are better options for those who have commited minor crimes, like making them volunteer for some community work. In this essay I will eloborate both the views and will give my own opinion.
To start with, instead of sending people to prison who have commited minor crimes is building pressure on government expenses. when a person is arrested police have to look after that person for food, living arrangements in prison, transportation, any medical expense incase of medical conditions. On the otherhand, if minor offender is given a community work it is beneficial for community and will be leason for person, where they do free work without getting paid. For example: study published in The Age newspaper in Australia where first time minor crime commiters have given their feedback, when they were offered to do a community work instead of going to prison have released their stress as they done a mistake unknowingly.
On the Otherhand, masses who support the idea of sending lawbreakers to prison because if they donot go to prision they will do the same mistake again as they know they will be free by doing some community work. Public believe that this will also send a wrong message to lawbiding citizens. Therefore, it is important to give a lesson to first time offenders otherwise they might commit a serious crimes thinking of they will go to prision just like the first time.
In conclusion, Both the view points have their own advantages and disadvantages like if first time offender going to prision might think more minor mistake they are being treated as serious criminals. Whereas, if they are being offered a community work they might think in mind it is very easy to walk free after comminting crime. In my opinion, before deciding the punishment, we have to keep in mind the background of lawbreaker then decide.