Harsh Prison Sentences

Harsh prison sentences will prevent people from committing crime.

Punishment is defined as the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense (Oxford Dictionary). In this essay, an attempt will be made to discuss whether harsh prison sentences will prevent people from committing crime. Firstly, in countries like Indonesia different crimes are punished with the death sentence which causes problems in families of those that are executed. Secondly, prison conditions have been proven to not prevent crime but instead cause even more crime. Thirdly, punishments bring negative reinforcements; the harsher the punishment the heavier the imprint in the prisoner’s mind and the more prone this person will be to committing crime once released. Finally, a conclusion will be presented.

Harsh prison sentences in countries like Iran and Indonesia are made to teach the general public that committing a crime is wrong and offenders will be punished. In Indonesia, being in possession of marijuana will warrant the offender a death penalty whereas South Africa can give you a heavy fine or a minimal sentence of approximately ten years depending on how much is on you when you are caught. With that being said, the family of the person who has been executed will seek revenge one way or another. Reason being, the death sentence is the same as murder to some thus more crime will be committed by family members seeking to avenge the death (execution) of their loved one especially given the circumstance of the crime. Every execution, one way or another, leaves behind a new victim and that does not help in reducing the crime rates in any country. For example, if the person that was executioned had a child, that child will grow up not understanding why their mother or father was killed and grows up to resent the world, leading them to start a life of crime. In the long run, crime rates will rise thus and the cycle starts all over again.

Prison conditions have been said to affect the recidivism of some prisoners (Chen and Shapiro: 2007). Although harsh prison sentences do in some cases reduce crime rates, the probability is lower because the prisoners would have known the type of life they lived within causing themselves to believe they can endure it again if they are convicted. Whereas those convicted and put in less harsh conditions cannot wait to get out of prison and live their life for the better.

The harsher the punishment is on someone, the heavier the imprint is on their mind. According to Heiden (2013:7). Long-term isolation produces clinical effects that are similar to those produced by physical torture. Meaning a person is, in every way possible, capable of hurting themselves or others because of long term isolation. Be that as it may, since they have grown accustomed to being in solitary confinement they do not know how to react to being with other people and may repeat the crimes or worse.

In conclusion, harsh prison sentences will prevent crime, however, in South Africa it will not. Reason being, people who have longer sentences tend to form relationships within the prison with other inmates and they psychologically adapt to the environment. The prison conditions in South Africa are quite luxurious compared to other countries prison. Inmates in these prisons get 3 star hospitality: they get 3 meals a day with desert, they allowed watching television for hours on end and they are allowed visitors. Prison sentences in South Africa are not that harsh to imprint negatively on a person. Long term isolation would not cause the offender to hurt themselves or others physically. Overall, I do not believe that harsh prison sentences will prevent people from committing crime

Reference List

Anonymous. (2013). Executions traumatize clergy, jurors, journalists, and others. Available from http://ejusa.org/learn/secondary%2Btrauma. (Accessed 23 April 2013)

Barrett, T. (2013). What Are the Effects of the Death Penalty? Available from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-effects-of-the-death-penalty.htm. (Accessed 24 April 2013)

Heiden, Z. (2013). Change is possible: A case study of solitary confinement reform in Maine.(Report) Available from http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/aclu_solitary_report_webversion.pdf. (accessed 24 April 2013)

Oxford Dictionaries. (2013).

Shapiro, J.M., Chen, M.K. (2004). Does Prison harden Inmates? A discontinuity-based approach.Available from http://papers.ssm.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=470301 (Accessed 24 April 2013)

Bibliography

Anonymous. (2013). Executions traumatize clergy, jurors, journalists, and others. Available from http://ejusa.org/learn/secondary%2Btrauma. (Accessed 23 April 2013)

Barrett, T. (2013). What Are the Effects of the Death Penalty? Available from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-effects-of-the-death-penalty.htm. (Accessed 24 April 2013)

Oxford Dictionaries. (2013).

Anonymous. (2011). Top 10: Harsh legal systems. Available from http://www.askmen.com/top_10/travel/top-10-harsh-legal-systems.html (Accessed 24 April 2013)

Souper, M. (2008). Principles of reoffending rates. Sixth form law. Available from http://sixthformlaw.info/01_modules/mod1/1_3_pend_system_1_principles/08_principles_reoffending_rates.htm (accessed 25 April 2013)

Heiden, Z. (2013). Change is possible: A case study of solitary confinement reform in Maine.(Report) Available from http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/aclu_solitary_report_webversion.pdf. (accessed 24 April 2013)

Bibliography: Anonymous. (2013). Executions traumatize clergy, jurors, journalists, and others. Available from http://ejusa.org/learn/secondary%2Btrauma. (Accessed 23 April 2013) Barrett, T. (2013). What Are the Effects of the Death Penalty? Available from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-effects-of-the-death-penalty.htm. (Accessed 24 April 2013) Oxford Dictionaries. (2013). Anonymous. (2011). Top 10: Harsh legal systems. Available from http://www.askmen.com/top_10/travel/top-10-harsh-legal-systems.html (Accessed 24 April 2013) Souper, M. (2008). Principles of reoffending rates. Sixth form law. Available from http://sixthformlaw.info/01_modules/mod1/1_3_pend_system_1_principles/08_principles_reoffending_rates.htm (accessed 25 April 2013) Heiden, Z. (2013). Change is possible: A case study of solitary confinement reform in Maine.(Report) Available from http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/aclu_solitary_report_webversion.pdf. (accessed 24 April 2013)