Since 1993 the population within prison is increasing leading to majority of prison overcrowding this meaning there is now a higher percentage of people in prison here in England than any other country in Western Europe (Howard League 2006). This is leading to re-offending as offenders are not able to receive individual rehabilitation because there are too many offenders to rehabilitate. As this becomes more of a problem in today’s society the government are coming up with new punishments which will help to reduce the overcrowding within the prisons. One of these new punishments is probation, this is a sentence which is been imposed by court and given to the offender either after the offender has served their sentence in prison or not at all.
Within this essay, the focus will be to explain if the probation service is either soft or a hard option whilst covering three concepts to see what extent this is a true representation of community penalties. The three concepts which will be critically analysed will be history of prisons, prison population and the media’s perception of probation. At the end of this essay it will hopefully conclude whether probation is either a soft or hard penal option.
The first concept which will be critically analysed will be the history of prisons and theories to why prison is a better punishment then probation service and how probation is soft compared to prisons. Prisons are seen as an institution where offenders are placed before and after being tried by court of a criminal offence which they have committed against either a member or the public or society itself for example terror attacks on buildings.
Prisons were first built around the 13th century however these were only used for vagrant...
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...onships Sykes explains his imprisonment also means he is also figuratively castrated by his involuntary celibacy. The fourth form is the deprivations of autonomy where inmates have daily regimes where they are expected to adhere as there is no choice. The final form is the deprivation of security where inmates placed into the institute to associate with others just like themselves where there is one meaning of the involuntary union (Newburn 2007).
The next classic study was done by Erving Goffman in 1961 were his study was called total institutions: Asylums. This is where he explores how entry into a total institution such as an asylum, a prison or the army involves processes that involve what he describes as ‘mortification of the self’, this is a series of ritual humiliation and degradations which have a impact on the individuals sense of self (Newburn 2007).
This element is able to be used as an alternative to being in jail, or another form of punishment. It also works to deter further criminal activities and temptations, a means of punishment, and individually help the offender themselves. Unfortunately, there is evidence suggesting racial and gender disparities when it comes to probation. All in all, the proportion of black and white people based on their overall population size and percentage actually partaking in these punishments is very disproportionate. There are also disparities correlating between Hispanic as well, all of which is growing media attention. On the other hand when it comes to gender, females are treated differently than men. This is apparent when it comes to treatment and length of sentencing.
Every civilization in history has had rules, and citizens who break them. To this day governments struggle to figure out the best way to deal with their criminals in ways that help both society and those that commit the crimes. Imprisonment has historically been the popular solution. However, there are many instances in which people are sent to prison that would be better served for community service, rehab, or some other form of punishment. Prison affects more than just the prisoner; the families, friends, employers, and communities of the incarcerated also pay a price. Prison as a punishment has its pros and cons; although it may be necessary for some, it can be harmful for those who would be better suited for alternative means of punishment.
A reality where the prisoner is dehumanized and have their rights and mental health abused. “I have endured lockdowns in buildings with little or no heat; lockdowns during which authorities cut off the plumbing completely, so contraband couldn’t be flushed away; and lockdowns where we weren’t allowed out to shower for more than a month” (Hopkins 154). A prisoner currently must survive isolation with improper shelter in the form of heat. Issues compound with a lack of running water and bathing, a proven severe health danger, especially for someone lacking proper nutrients such as a prisoner in lockdown. These abuses of physical well being then manifest into damage of prisoners’ mental well being. “Perhaps I should acknowledge that the lockdown-and, indeed, all these years-have damaged more than I want to believe” (Hopkins 156). Even for the experienced prisoner the wrath of unethically long lockdowns still cause mental damage. Each and every isolation period becomes another psychological beating delivered as the justice system needlessly aims to damage the already harmed inmates. The damage is so profound inmates even recognize the harm done to them by their jailors. An armed and widely used psychological weapon, the elongated lockdown procedures decimate mental health each and every time
Many young criminals are less likely to become career criminals if punished through public embarrassment than through prison. Prison can be a sign of manliness or a “status symbol” (Jacoby 197). He says “prison is a graduate school for criminals”, providing evidence that criminals want to be convicted and be in prison, to strengthen their status (Jacoby 197). Jacoby knows how to properly get his view across to the reader, by saying that prison is not as effective now, as it used to be.... ... middle of paper ...
The “pains of imprisonment” can be divided into five main conditions that attack the inmate’s personality and his feeling of self-worth. The deprivations are as follows: The deprivation of liberty, of goods and services, of heterosexual relationships, autonomy and of security.
The United States Criminal Justice System has several options available when it comes to sentencing. Probation is one that we hear of most when it comes to first time offenders as well as juvenile offenders. John Augustus first developed probation in Boston in 1841. The first probation law was enacted in Massachusetts in 1878. By the 1990’s the juvenile justice system was far more effective as it began taking greater measures. In 2010, probation was used in approximately 53 percent of juvenile delinquency cases. Typically, probation sentences are circumstantial, and are imposed under very specific terms and conditions. These must be followed by the defendant unless he or she would like to return
But as will be discussed, there are major flaws in the Australian criminal justice system with issues focussing on three main concerns: (i) lenient sentencing in the criminal justice system particularly with white-collar and blue-collar crimes (i) recidivism and lack of support for offenders (iii) public safety concerns. This essay will examine issues with the Australian prison system, and explore the punishment of shaming and if it is an effective method in preventing general and specific deterrence using sociological frameworks and theories.
Eighteenth Century Prison Conditions Eighteenth century prisons had appalling conditions. The conditions in every aspect were horrendous, the cells were bare, empty rooms except for a bed and if you were lucky a fireplace with overcrowding in most prisons affecting conditions, prison was not the best place to be living unless you were rich. Most conditions were due to the fact that no one tried or attempted to rehabilitate the prisoners, prisons were just built to hold people until they were either hung or had paid off their debt. Some prisons didn't even segregate prisoners according to their crime, age or sex. This led to young children being influenced by the older more 'experienced' prisoners.
Robert states that it was the Americans that invented the prison. "The history of prison in America is the history of a troubled search for solutions." Before we had prisons in America, criminals where dealt with in a swift and brutal manner. Many prisoner where dealt with by corporal or capital punishment. Jails did exist in this time but they were "primarily for pretrail detention" stated Pray.
Society has long since operated on a system of reward and punishment. That is, when good deeds are done or a person behaves in a desired way they SP are rewarded, or conversely punished when behaviour does not meet the societal norms. Those who defy these norms and commit crime are often punished by organized governmental justice systems through the use of penitentiaries, where prisoners carry out their sentences. The main goals of sentencing include deterrence, safety of the public, retribution, rehabilitation, punishment and respect for the law (Government of Canada, 2013). However, the type of justice system in place within a state or country greatly influences the aims and mandates of prisons and in turn targets different aspects of sentencing goals. Justice systems commonly focus on either rehabilitative or retributive measures.
Prison has held a place in our society for centuries. Throughout history, prisoners have been incapacitated in a vicious environment and that still rings true today. A person’s experience in prison can greatly vary. It may be a place of solace for those that are homeless because they have three meals and a bed to sleep in every night. However, it can be a nightmare for others who feel as though prison will ruin their future. It is an environment where a person is stripped of their free will. Due to overcrowding in prisons, inmate’s psychological strain, and prison officer cruelty through gladiator games and drug smuggling, proves that prison continues to be a brutalizing and debilitating experience for adult males in the United Kingdom.
As the current prison structures and sentencing process continues to neglect the issues that current offenders have no change will accrue to prevent recidivism. The issue with the current structure of the prison sentencing process is it does not deal with the “why” the individual is an social deviant but only looks at the punishment process to remove the deviant from society. This method does not allow an offender to return back to society without continuing where they left off. As an offender is punished they are sentenced (removal from society) they continue in an isolated environment (prison) after their punishment time is completed and are released back to society they are now an outsider to the rapidly changing social environment. These individuals are returned to society without any coping skills, job training, or transitional training which will prevent them from continuing down th...
This essay has identified sanctions imposed on offenders including imprisonment and community corrections. Described how punishment is justified with the just desert and deterrence theory. Discussing the rate of individuals being imprison comparted to community, provided rates for assault which shows crime being maintained and community member feel safe enough to allow for this to
The origin of the word prison comes from the Latin word to seize. It is fair to say that the traditionally use of prison correspond well with the origin of the word; as traditionally prison was a place for holding people whilst they were awaiting trail. Now, centuries on and prisons today is used as a very popular, and severe form of punishment offered to those that have been convicted. With the exception however, of the death penalty and corporal punishment that still takes place in some countries. Being that Prison is a very popular form of punishment used in today's society to tackle crime and punish offenders, this essay will then be examining whether prison works, by drawing on relevant sociological factors. Furthermore, it will be looking at whether punishment could be re-imagined, and if so, what would it entail?
For many years, there have been a huge debate on the ideal of reform versus punishment. Many of these debates consist of the treatment and conditioning of individuals serving time in prison. Should prison facilities be a place solely to derogate freewill and punish prisoners as a design ideology of deterrence? Should prison facilities be design for rehabilitation and conditioning, aim to educate prisoners to integrate back into society.