The process of using punishment as a threat to deter individuals from committing criminal activities denotes deterrence. It holds that retribution is an obligatory consequence of a crime committed, and ought to be measured through the gravity of the offence done. The approach was based on two assumptions; the first was held that the punishment would discourage and prevent the individuals from committing similar offence, and the second assumption held that the dread of punishment would prevent others from committing crimes (Sieberg, 2005). However, there are various deliberations as to whether or not the use of prison as deterrence to criminals like Jeffery Dahmer over the years. Without a doubt, they do not. Jeffrey Dahmer was on record to have not only raped, but also he killed and ate human parts. He was sent to prison after he was found guilty to have done so to more than ten men with the hope that such crime would not happen again. Nevertheless, such crimes are on record to have taken place after Jeffrey was sent to prison a clear indication that the assumptions that were drown about prison being used as deterrence to criminals do not hold water. Moreover, there was a feeling that the prison was not punishment enough for criminals explaining why it was not effective in preventing and deterring criminals (Sieberg, 2005). Rather, the prisons were viewed a places where a government endeavors at feeding, clothing, educating, medicating, entertaining, and legally protecting individuals who were supposed to be punished for their crimes. On top of that, the individuals who were wronged were the once ensuring that they are well catered for through their taxes, and based on such arguments; it would be truthful to conclude that prisons are not effective in deterring criminals comparable Jeffrey Dahmer.
There are various alternatives to prison that might be more effective in deterring or preventing similar offences. They are believed to be more effective because they take into consideration that there are various aspects that force individuals to committee the crimes that they do. For instance, poverty might force individuals to committee a crime (Greenwood, 2006). Hence, it would not be worth it to imprison such an individual, but rather, addressing the issues that bring about poverty would be effective in reducing similar crimes. Prevention is one of the alternatives to imprisonment. Through the alternative, the government adopts measures that are aimed at preventing crimes from taking place. By illustration, increasing the number of law enforcements officers or installing CCTV cameras within an area among many other measures represents the measures that a government might take to prevent crime. Through the various biological and psychological theories of criminology, the government might be in a position to underpin the crimes that might take place within an area taking preventive measures before crimes take place. Comparatively, rehabilitation would be yet another alternative to imprisonment. Considering the high rates of recidivism, rehabilitation ensures that individuals will be less likely to return to prison by committing the same crime (Alexander, 2003). In addition, it implies restoring the usefulness of a person through education and therapy. The alternative is based on the fact that individuals are never enduringly criminals, and as a result, there is a possibility of restoring criminals to useful people to the society. Rather than punishing the harm out of the criminals, rehabilitation pursues to offer the individuals a peaceful mind, and an attitude that would be beneficial to the society (Alexander, 2003). Through education and therapy, rehabilitation as an alternate becomes more effective in deterring criminals like Jeffrey Dahmer.
Reference
Alexander, C. N. (2003). Transcendental Meditation in criminal rehabilitation and crime prevention. New York: Haworth Press.
Greenwood, P. W. (2006). Changing lives: Delinquency prevention as crime-control policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Sieberg, K. K. (2005). Criminal dilemmas: Understanding and preventing crime. Berlin: Springer.
