Why Prisons Don T Work Wilbert Rideau Analysis

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In his essay, “Why Prisons Don’t Work”, Wilbert Rideau, a former murder convict and prison inmate, argues that prison sentences and harsh punishments do not prevent crime. As stated by Rideau, “Prison has a role in public safety, but it is not a cure-all. Its value is limited…” He supports this claim by first explaining how society thinks that harsher punishments are the answer to crime. He then states everything wrong with that mentality and why it does not solve anything. And finally, he explains the actions that must be taken to “…prevent crime from happening in the first place…”. Rideau’s purpose is to call attention to the errors of the prison system in order to encourage political leaders to change the prison system in a way that would

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