Pros And Cons Of Incarceration Rates

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Hello Dr. PK and Fellow Classmates,
In the United States our correction system is flawed. Our incarceration rates are increasing rapidly while our crime rates are decreasing. Personally, I believe that this is due to the no tolerance in the jailing of individuals. Often individuals are jailed immediately for most crimes instead of being offered opportunities for rehabilitation, community service, parole and other methods of determent or punishment. I believe that nonviolent minor crimes should have decreased sentencing, to in turn decrease prison populations. The recidivism rate for those who are repeat offenders is unnecessarily high. Clearly jailing anyone who commits a crime is not an effective method to decrease crime. In fact, I believe …show more content…

This idea has led to millions of individuals being sentenced for long periods of time for crimes that do not necessarily warrant yearly long sentences. I believe that the only way to decrease our incarceration rates is to stop choosing the easy way out. It is far easier to lock up people than it is to rehabilitate them. Rehabilitation should always be a first response to nonviolent minor crimes; obviously for more serious crimes such as murder, more serious punishments should be enforced. For example, drug arrests make up a large portion of the incarceration population. This is not necessary, yes certain drug arrests like one involving a drug dealer who sold drugs to another individual who then died from the drugs, is a crime that deserves serious punishment. However, for less serious drug related crimes, such as possession, people should be offered a rehabilitation program such as rehab or probation. A simple drug possession charge should not be a mandatory prison sentence. The United States needs to quit sending people to jail and to start offering rehabilitation options. Overall, I believe that this would ultimately decrease recidivism and decrease prison

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