Introduction
- Many of the individuals who commit crime are a first time offender, and many scholars argue that jail terms are not appropriate for such individuals in modern society.
- Thesis: The society believes that prisons protect them from criminals, and the goal of the criminal justice system is to protect law-abiding citizens from crime, especially crimes of violence and security of lives and property.
Body
- The proponents of jail terms argue that one of the reasons for administering punishments such as jail terms is to discourage others from committing similar offenses and reduction of crime.
- The criminal justice system ensures protection of individual rights and freedoms if it brings criminals to justice.
- The number of jailed individuals would not lead to a significant increase in crime if released, and adopting other alternative punishments would be appropriate before release.
Conclusion
- It is necessary for the criminal justice system to consider the various factors that influence the punishment for a first time offenders before opting for a jail term sentence.
Crime and Punishment
Many of the individuals who commit crime are a first time offender, and many scholars argue that jail terms are not appropriate for such individuals in modern society. Moreover, the use of jail terms by the government to punish crime is not advisable because it may be counterproductive. The society believes that prisons protect them from criminals, and the goal of the criminal justice system is to protect law-abiding citizens from crime, especially crimes of violence and security of lives and property.
However, it is not certain of the real protection that prisons afford because a small percentage of law breakers end up in prison, and many remain there for a short period. The proponents of jail terms argue that one of the reasons for administering punishments such as jail terms is to discourage others from committing similar offenses and reduction of crime. First time offenders and all contribute to criminal activities. Short Jail terms are suitable for a first time offender because it discourages other potential criminals from engaging in crime. The effectiveness of jail terms to deter criminal behavior is incomparable to other alternative forms of punishments. When in jail, an individual is incapable of engaging in crime compared to other alternative punishments like community service that increases the probability of the person to commit a crime. Even though many argue that first time offenders should be jailed, jail terms have minimal impact on their behavior. Re- offending locks a criminal into a cycle of crime and fear and their frequency in prison increases. Coupled with relatively short jail terms, these individuals are brought back to humanity, which poses a danger to society.
The criminal justice system ensures protection of individual rights and freedoms if it brings criminals to justice. However, the low number of convictions challenges the effectiveness of the criminal justice system to protect its citizens from crime. This minimizes the impact that prisons will have on first time offenders if not to increase insecurity thus government should offer alternative punishments for this group of criminals.
The number of jailed individuals would not lead to a significant increase in crime if released, and adopting other alternative punishments would be appropriate before release. First time offenders are not entrapped in a cycle of crime thus alternative punishments should be adapted depending on the crime committed. Even though many individuals believe that criminals should serve long jail terms, it is not guaranteed that prisons will be helpful in transforming them into better individuals. Prisons only deny them the freedom of committing another offense thus fails to serve a higher purpose of rehabilitation.
The punishment for criminal offenses depends on several factors that lead to crime. Punishment for a first time offender should be determined by the crime committed and the pattern of non convicted criminal activities. Modernity has made mental condition a determinant of punishment, and a jail term is unjust if these factors are not considered especially when the criminal is a first time offender. Therefore, it is necessary for the criminal justice system to consider the various factors that influence the punishment for a first time offenders before opting for a jail term sentence.
Bibliography
Pollock, Joycelyn M. Crime and Justice in America: An Introduction to Criminal Justice.
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Takahashi, Yoshiko. Reentry of Offenders and the Role of Jail in the Context of Community
System-Wide Analysis of Chronic Offenders. Dissertation Abstracts International. 69-10. Thesis (Ph.D.)--The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2008, 2008. pp 58.
Tonry, Michael. Intermediate Sanctions in Sentencing Guidelines. Washington: U.S. Department
of Justice, 1997. p 43.
