Many people believe that all criminals should be sent to jail. On the other hand, others think there are better options for those whose violations are minor, such as making them do work for the residents. The following essay will discuss both views and present my opinion.
On the one hand, there are some arguments for all criminals being sent to prison. First, signing a similar range of punishment to all lawbreakers avoids the possible unfairness of judgement system, which ensures the stability in the government. Second, it removes dangerous individuals from society, protecting innocent citizens. This considerably contributes to the public safety. Besides that, the plurality of residents believe, that they deserve to suffer for the damage they have caused, viewing prison as the only legitimate form of justice.
On the other hand, there are also arguments for giving a less harsh punishment for criminals. Initially, people can have an encouragement to start a new life, if they are given a chance to benefit for the local society. Second, forcing them to a hard work instead of letting them have leisure time in the jail, strenghtens the offender’s worldview. Furthermore, it may be an example of justice for the whole society, which promotes social reintegration.
In conclusion, the matter discussed above is really disputable. It is my view that imprisonment(non-custodial sentences) should be reserved for violent or repeated violation of the law, while community work is better suited for unsignificant felonies, such as petty theft, traffic violations, or first-time offenders.