Opinions are divided as to how criminals should be punished, with some believing that imprisonment is the most effective way. However, I do not believe that going to prison effectively discourages from committing crimes and maintaining prisons is expensive for governments. Alternative measures such as rehabilitation and public service might be more effective.
On the one hand, criminals who committed a crime and were put in prisons are highly likely to reoffend after release as prison might not discourage them from committing crimes. In addition, prison culture can be especially harmful to those who are sent to jail for minor and first-time offences as they may learn worse behaviors from other prisoners and return to society more dangerous and disconnected which may turn them into hardened criminals later.
On the other hand, maintaining prisons can be a financial problem for some governments. Providing food, clothing and other basic needs may result in spending from the nation’s budget. Instead, money could be used for education, healthcare, or social programs which are more useful and help improve life and the society as a whole. For example, Japan and South Korea have recently shut down nearly 10% of their prisons to provide public with better education and health service.
However, prison is not always the most effective form of punishment particularly for non-violent and first-time offenders. In contrast, rehabilitation programs could be better alternative as some offenders such as youngsters or drug addicts might need treatment or education rather than jail. Moreover, community service may help prisoners to become better citizens as these programs bring back the sense of responsibility and self-confidence.
In conclusion, while some think that jail is the best method of punishment for offenders, I think it would not work effectively for some prisoners and expenses involved could be used for more important areas. Rehabilitation and public service problems would likely to get better outcomes for both society and individuals
