Roles of Prison System and Rehabilitation - Assignment Example

Crime and Punishment Task Introduction: In the earlier times, rehabilitation was considered as a major part of the prison system. The psychological problems of the prisoners used to be studied and they used to be encouraged to develop such skills and aptitude such that they might be able to lead normal lives after their punishment is over. However, the situation seems to have changed significantly in the present times with prisons not being effective enough for the rehabilitation of prisoners (Benson 2003). Roles of Prison System and Rehabilitation: Although in the earlier times, rehabilitation was considered as the major role of the prison system, in the present times, punishment is considered as the main role of the prison system. As a result, countries like America reflect increasing number of prisoners as recorded over the years. However psychologists are still continuing their researches on the causes of crimes and trying to decipher why individuals are entering the criminal justice system (Benson 2003). The basic roles of a prison system include: social isolation and confinement, repentance, punishment and deterrence, protection and reformation. A prison system leads to an isolation of the prisoner from the society such that the man’s violations of the legal system do not affect the lives of the common people. It is expected that he would repent on his wrong deeds if kept isolated. Also, with some pain and suffering, it would create some fears among the criminals. It is also the role of the prison system to protect the society from criminals which can be achieved through captivating the criminals. Reformation is the role that is focused on changing the attitude and mental condition of the individuals such that they do not repeat crimes (Bura 2012). Rehabilitation proves to be an essential role of the prison system since it is the prime motive of the justice system to rehabilitate the individuals who have committed crime. If rehabilitation is not focused, then bad people would only turn into worse. Instead, rehabilitation functions to restore the lives of the criminals by changing their mental condition, health conditions and their attitudes trying to prevent them from committing crimes again. Only then these individuals would be able to live normal lives once they are back into the society (Tanner 2012). Effectiveness of Prisons for Rehabilitation: The Present Day Situation: With the rates of punishment being increased and less focus being given on the resettlement needs of the criminals, the rehabilitation of the offenders in the prison system has become less likely to achieve in the present times. It is observed that most of the prisoners who are released are re-offending and are taken back to prisons. This reflects the fact that the present day prison system is not proving to be effective in rehabilitating the prisoners and instead turning the mental state into worse through punishment measures (Cavadino 2006). Conclusion: Thus from the above study, it can be realized that although it is the role of the prison to make the criminals realize of their wrongdoings and rehabilitate them such that they can lead normal lives without affecting the society, yet in the present times the prison systems have proved not to be effective enough for rehabilitation of individuals, with their focus being more eon punishing the criminals and not correcting them as is needed. Task 2: Prison Does Not Work: Introduction: Prison punishments have been expected to prevent crimes and correct the mental attitudes of the criminals. Yet in the present times it is observed that prison overcrowding has become one of the major causes of concerns, particularly in countries like the America. Similar situation is observed in other countries as well presenting a doubt on whether the modern day prison system works or not (Big Question: Does the modern prison system work? 2013). Prison: The Dominant Form of Punishment: The use of prisons for punishing criminals had been into existence since over 200 years ago. Before that the prime method of punishment that was in use was transportation. However the use of imprisonment became more popular in the nineteenth century. Gradually there was no places found to transport the offenders and with the governments getting control of the use of prisons, the prison system became the prominent form of punishment. This was also supported with the view that criminals needed reformation that could be achieved only if they were captivated in prisons. Thus eventually and in the present times prisons became the most dominant form of punishment, also considering the fact that the society needs to be protected from harmful individuals (Taylor 2011). It is the prison system that has the capability to develop programs to reform the offenders such that when they complete their due punishment, they can live their normal lives among others in the society. Even considering the present situation, the imprisonment is considered as a measure of punishment, more than it can correct the individuals (Samaha 2012). The need for punishment definitely arises since offenders, if left free in the society, would cause severe harm to the common people. They need to be isolated and treated such that their attitudes towards committing crimes can change and they can focus on living normal lives (Bura 2012). However, with the modern prison system, although the punishment has become effective, the purpose of correcting the offenders seems to have been failing. Challenges of Effective Functioning of Prisons: The present challenge that the prison systems encounter making their functions ineffective is the fact that prisons are captivating more and more number of offenders. This eventually has led to overcrowding of offenders, thus making it more difficult to focus on the rehabilitation or treatment programs of the offenders. It has been observed that offenders who are released are getting involved with activities of crime again thereby causing them to get captivated again (Ward et al 2013). However, since in the present day, the focus of the prison system has been put more on the factor of punishment and lesser on the correctional activities, the challenges of overcrowding and failure of rehabilitating the offenders have arisen. Challenges have also being encountered with lesser educational and employment opportunities for the offenders since they are not corrected. Moreover these individuals do not get any help from the public as they fear such offenders, thereby making the prison system a failure for the correction of offenders (Ward et al 2013). Conclusion: Thus it can be said that the modern prison systems are not effective for the correction of offenders along with the increasing challenges that the system is encountered with, as discussed. Task 3: Capital Punishment Should Be Reinstated: Introduction: Capital punishment reflects death as the punishment for severe crimes like murder and other similar crimes. Since earlier times, this has been considered to be the ultimate punishment for the most severe crimes, as this has also been prescribed in the Bible, and used to be followed as such. However, over the years, this punishment has been considered as a brutal and severe nature of punishment and hence not used frequently for punishing offenders (Johnson and Blair 2006). Capital Punishment and Imprisonment: There have been significant comparisons among the two forms of punishment – capital punishment and lifetime imprisonment. It is often considered that life imprisonment can be a good alternative to the capital form of punishment since many justice systems consider the capital punishment as being highly cruel and brutal form of punishment for offenders. However the debate has always remained unresolved. Certain research reflects that the fear of deaths often prevent individuals from committing crimes. With death penalty in practice, individuals are scared of the brutal punishments and thus tend to focus on a more positive attitude of living their lives (Life Imprisonment is a Good Alternative to Capital Punishment 2013). However, there are other views as well that are against the capital form of punishment. There are philosophers and researchers who believe that capital punishment or death penalty do not curb the rates of crimes offended by individuals. Such views reflect that if crimes cannot be lessened with capital punishment then such forms of punishment are not necessary to be implemented. It is said that if an individual while committing a crime had thought of the punishments that he might suffer from as a consequence of his offense, then he would have never attempted that offense. However, before committing the crime, no offender thinks about the consequences. Thus even if death penalties might have been in place in the justice system, even then it would not prevent the other offenders from committing crimes. This reflects on the fact that capital punishment does not work effectively in prevention of crimes (Life Imprisonment is a Good Alternative to Capital Punishment 2013). Strengths of Capital Punishment: Although there are views and opinions against this form of punishment, yet considering the rates and severity of crimes in the present times, it can be said that capital punishment should be reinstated owing to the following strengths of this form of punishment: it acts as a most important prevention; the society gets protected from harmful offenders; some offenders should not be allowed to live if they cannot be corrected; life without parole; it is a permanent solution for the offenders and the safety of the society; it is a demand of the common people as well; less costly since keeping offenders in prison, treating and rehabilitating them costs more; acts as a moral guideline for other offenders. However, while considering this form of punishment it is also necessary to be certain that the punishment is not being given to any innocent by mistake (The death penalty should be reinstated in the UK n.d.). Conclusion: Thus it can be said that although capital punishment is a brutal form of punishment, yet in the present scenario, with the severity of crimes, and the challenges of correcting offenders, capital punishment seems to be necessary to be reinstated. Task 4: To Rehabilitate is the Only Sensible Reason to Punish: Introduction: When an individual commits a crime, the purpose of punishing the offender is to make him realize of his mistake and repent such that he would not repeat such acts. Thus rehabilitation proves to be essential. Without rehabilitation, the mental condition and attitude of the individual would not change, and without such a change, the prison system or the punishment cannot be considered as successful or sensible (McNeill n.d.). Rehabilitation is Still Unpopular in the Society: The society wants criminals and offenders to be punished more than they are corrected or put into rehabilitation. Common people believe that individuals who commit crimes deserve to get punishment. According to them, only punishment can teach them their wrongdoings and discourage other individuals from committing similar crimes. Moreover, the society fears that the offenders if left again in the society might be involved in similar acts again thus making the society unsafe for living of the common people (The Purpose of Criminal Punishment 2004). With the re-offending rates of offenders rising, the programs of rehabilitation have become more unpopular among the common people (Bennish 2010). There are examples of rehabilitation programs where failure has been seen and the offenders have been found to re-offend. This is evident from the MonDay Community Correctional Institution as well as from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Offenders who had successfully completed their rehabilitation programs from the MonDay Community Correctional Institution were found to engage in offenses again. This is not only the case with the MonDay Community but with many other rehabilitation communities like the nonprofit Nova House as well (Bennish 2010). Rehabilitation Programs in Prisons: There are several forms of rehabilitation programs that prisons focus on while they consider rehabilitating the offenders, if they do so at all. These include programs like aggression replacement training, alcohol related violence program, addressing substance related offenses, belief in change, building skills for recovery, controlling anger and managing it, choices, actions, relationships and emotions, community domestic violence program, boosting the cognitive and other skills of the offender, focus on resettlement, generic booster program, healthy relationship program, low intensity alcohol program, prison partnership therapeutic community program, rehabilitation of addicted prisoners trust, and so on (Offender Behavior Programs (OBPs) 2012). Firstly since the modern prison system do not focus on these programs effectively, and with the myth that these programs do not actually work, the rehabilitation programs are still unpopular among the common people (Bonta 2012). Conclusion: It can be understood that if punishment cannot treat the offenders and cannot change their attitude towards committing crimes, then such punishment do not prove to be sensible. Hence rehabilitation is essential to be achieved in order to make the effect of punishment successful. However common people prefer punishments like capital punishments for the offenders more than their corrections and this belief has been further supported with the lack of modern prison system in focusing on rehabilitation programs of offenders. References Bennish, S. (2010) Offender rehab program failing, studies show. Daytondailynews. [Online]. Available at: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/crime-law/offender-rehab-program-failing-studies-show/nNBjK/ [Accessed 25 June 2013]. Benson, E. (2003) Rehabilitate or punish? APA. [Online]. Available at: http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug03/rehab.aspx [Accessed 25 June 2013]. Big Question: Does the modern prison system work? (2013) Discovery. 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