Summary Of Punishment V: Effective Of Rehabilitation
Effective of Punishment V. Effective of Rehabilitation
Marneissa Brown
AJS 502
June 16, 2014
Walter Hale
Effective of Punishment V. Effective of Rehabilitation
This paper will discuss the effectiveness of punishment v. the effectiveness of rehabilitation. I will highlight how each affects the deterrence of crime as well as their effect on society as a whole. The notion of punishment and rehabilitation is one that has sparked debate across America for centuries. The judicial system as well as society has their own expectations of both aspects and some are neither realistic nor similar.
The term punishment is defined as a penalty that is imposed on an individual for doing wrong. When an individual does something that is not
in line with the norms and expectations of society and is deemed illegal. They are given a set punishment mandated by the judicial system and society. This punishment is usually some length in time in jail or prison. Does this time in jail or prison change the person mind frame or does this time breed resentment and allow the person to plan their next offense? In order to deter crime you must first understand the reasoning behind the crime. Understanding this will also give some understanding to the rising recidivism rate amongst offenders. Recidivism is defined as “repeat or habitual relapses into criminal behavior (Adler,)”.
Rehabilitation has been broadly described as “the result of any social or psychological intervention intended to reduce an offender’s potential future criminal activity (Adler).” Rehabilitation may be used to deter crime because it attempts to focus on why a person commits a crime and what can be done to deter that behavior. Rehabilitation may offer the offender a chance to gain an education, learn a trade or get assistance with mental health or substance abuse issues. Rehabilitation may also assist an offender with obtaining employment and constant counseling services.
Society is both negatively and positively impacted by the judicial systems use of either punishment or rehabilitation. The punishment of an offender by incarceration can harm not only their family but the victim’s family as well. It also can strain the prison system’s already time budget and space constraints. It is a positive because the public can feel a little safer with an offender serving time and it may act as a deterrent for anyone else who may want to commit the same offense. Statistics show that most offenders possess no to little education, are low income and may have either a substance abuse problem or suffer from mental illness. The cost of housing an offender in jail/prison is lower than housing them in a rehabilitation facility but the cost to the tax payer still remains. Most rehabilitation facilities are on a voluntary basis but it may be necessary to make them as a cause for release from jail/prison to ensure that the offender is given a foundation to re-enter society.
The debate over the effectiveness of punishment v. the effectiveness of rehabilitation will be debated for years to come and while each has its positive and negatives the usage will depend upon the severity of the crime and the discretion of the judicial system.
References
Steven Cotterman, (2007) Once a Criminal always a criminal? Rehabilitaion Can work http://voices.yahoo.com/ Adler, Mueller and Laufer. Criminal Justice: An Introduction. (5thed.). 2009 McGraw Hill
Marneissa Brown
AJS 502
June 16, 2014
Walter Hale
Effective of Punishment V. Effective of Rehabilitation
This paper will discuss the effectiveness of punishment v. the effectiveness of rehabilitation. I will highlight how each affects the deterrence of crime as well as their effect on society as a whole. The notion of punishment and rehabilitation is one that has sparked debate across America for centuries. The judicial system as well as society has their own expectations of both aspects and some are neither realistic nor similar.
The term punishment is defined as a penalty that is imposed on an individual for doing wrong. When an individual does something that is not
in line with the norms and expectations of society and is deemed illegal. They are given a set punishment mandated by the judicial system and society. This punishment is usually some length in time in jail or prison. Does this time in jail or prison change the person mind frame or does this time breed resentment and allow the person to plan their next offense? In order to deter crime you must first understand the reasoning behind the crime. Understanding this will also give some understanding to the rising recidivism rate amongst offenders. Recidivism is defined as “repeat or habitual relapses into criminal behavior (Adler,)”.
Rehabilitation has been broadly described as “the result of any social or psychological intervention intended to reduce an offender’s potential future criminal activity (Adler).” Rehabilitation may be used to deter crime because it attempts to focus on why a person commits a crime and what can be done to deter that behavior. Rehabilitation may offer the offender a chance to gain an education, learn a trade or get assistance with mental health or substance abuse issues. Rehabilitation may also assist an offender with obtaining employment and constant counseling services.
Society is both negatively and positively impacted by the judicial systems use of either punishment or rehabilitation. The punishment of an offender by incarceration can harm not only their family but the victim’s family as well. It also can strain the prison system’s already time budget and space constraints. It is a positive because the public can feel a little safer with an offender serving time and it may act as a deterrent for anyone else who may want to commit the same offense. Statistics show that most offenders possess no to little education, are low income and may have either a substance abuse problem or suffer from mental illness. The cost of housing an offender in jail/prison is lower than housing them in a rehabilitation facility but the cost to the tax payer still remains. Most rehabilitation facilities are on a voluntary basis but it may be necessary to make them as a cause for release from jail/prison to ensure that the offender is given a foundation to re-enter society.
The debate over the effectiveness of punishment v. the effectiveness of rehabilitation will be debated for years to come and while each has its positive and negatives the usage will depend upon the severity of the crime and the discretion of the judicial system.
References
Steven Cotterman, (2007) Once a Criminal always a criminal? Rehabilitaion Can work http://voices.yahoo.com/ Adler, Mueller and Laufer. Criminal Justice: An Introduction. (5thed.). 2009 McGraw Hill