Owing to the great variety of crimes that can be punishable by prison, some people argue that not all criminals are the same and it would therefore be more appropriate to give certain criminals community service instead. I agree that in some cases, prison may not be the best solution and community service would probably have more benefits. One justification given for prisons is to keep society safe by removing criminals from the outside world. So the first thing to consider is if someone who has broken the law is a danger to other people. In the case of violent crime, there is an argument to keep the perpetrator away from society. However, burglary or possession of drugs, for example, does not involve violence against other people so the criminal does not present a direct danger to anyone in the community. Keeping these types of criminals in prison is expensive for the taxpayer and does not appear to be an effective punishment as they often commit the same crime again when they come out of prison. Personally, I also believe punishments should reform people so they do not reoffend. A further reason not to put these people in prison is that they may mix with more dangerous and violent criminals, potentially committing a worse crime when they are released. By keeping them in the community, helping others, they not only learn new skills, but they could also develop more empathy and care towards others. If this occurs, society can only benefit.
Owing to the great variety of
crimes
that can be punishable by
prison
,
some
people
argue that not all
criminals
are the
same and
it would
therefore
be more appropriate to give certain
criminals
community
service
instead
. I
agree
that in
some
cases,
prison
may not be the best solution and
community
service would
probably
have more benefits. One justification
given
for
prisons
is to
keep
society safe by removing
criminals
from the outside world.
So
the
first
thing to consider is if someone who has broken the law is a
danger
to
other
people
. In the case of violent
crime
, there is an argument to
keep
the perpetrator away from society.
However
, burglary or possession of drugs,
for example
, does not involve violence against
other
people
so
the
criminal
does not present a direct
danger
to anyone in the
community
. Keeping these types of
criminals
in
prison
is expensive for the taxpayer and does not appear to be an effective punishment as they
often
commit the same
crime
again when they
come
out of
prison
.
Personally
, I
also
believe punishments should reform
people
so
they do not
reoffend
. A
further
reason not to put these
people
in
prison
is that they may mix with more
dangerous
and violent
criminals
,
potentially
committing a worse
crime
when they
are released
. By keeping them in the
community
, helping others, they not
only
learn new
skills
,
but
they could
also
develop more empathy and care towards others. If this occurs, society can
only
benefit.