Is it our governments job to lockup criminals in overcrowded, costly prisons or should our government steer more into the direction of, rehabilitating them into becoming productive members of society so they do not re-offend?
It would probably be a good idea for our government to rehabilitate criminals since all human beings make mistakes and it is with a second chance that they make a change to become a better person, usually. With that, we also need to consider that not all criminals will change their ways, which is dangerous to others if they are set free. Also, it would put out a message to society that it is alright to be a criminal because there are no extreme punishments or lengthy prison time. For the safety of others, and to be fair, criminals who have been a threat to society should be locked up regardless of the fact that prisons could be overcrowded and costly.
I am going to agree with Zainab's thought.They should be given a second chance. The people who are not in prison get second chances all the time. What makes the people inside of the prison any different. Just because they commit a crime does not mean they are no longer human beings. They deserve a chance to change their ways. If some of them do not change there ways then just send them back into prison until they are ready to be changed. I understand old habits/ways are hard to break, but if we don't try we won't know for sure.
That does make sense, but I think we should more consider the safety of innocent people first because by letting the criminals loose, it is increasing a risk of others getting hurt when really it could be prevented. I think it is more important to consider the lives of the majority of people who are innocent rather than feel sorry for criminals who have made reckless choices.
That is a very good point Zainab, we should focus on making sure that the public is safe from these criminals. Although I think we should try to focus more on rehabilitating these people so that they won't re-offend as oppose to locking them up forever, but it does depend on the person and the severity of their crime.
In my opinion, I would say that everyone deserves a second chance and should have the opportunity to change themselves into a better person.Even though there may a lot of criminals in prison, and a lot of money is being spent, unfortunately these are the consequences that needs to face. Of course the wrong things that we do, always comes in with a punishment, however I guess it just really depends on the level of crime itself as said from OA.
The should government steer more into the direction of rehabilitating prisoners into becoming productive members of society so they do not re-offend because sometime crimes are accidents or several prisoners learn from their mistake and it is normal for human beings to make mistakes, which the government needs to realize. Besides if the government helps prisoners to rehab jails, won’t be to overly crowded; since the ones who deserve to have a second chance will be in rehab. In addition, regardless the level of crime it all comes down to the individual whether the individual is willing to change and has learned the lesson that was taught.
Our government’s way of rehabilitating criminals is by sending people who did not abide the law to prison. This is really dumb, but what else can they do how else can they make criminals change? People who go to jail usually come out only more evil than ever more angry and have more experience of how to live an illegal lifestyle from socialising with other convicts. What can you do some people do learn their lesson and try to stick to being on the good side of the law. I think in Canada we are lucky because we have a good government and programs especially for offenders. People go to different programs for rehab like to psychiatrists, anger management and drug or substance abuse rehab. Many countries don’t have near such things they give criminals time and make them rot from the inside. I do believe programs like these do help criminals but for one to make a change they really have to want it. Spending time and money on people who would go and do their acts again is really depressing.
Excellent point Denis, which makes me refer back to my original question of how we can stop these small time offenders from going through the revolving door of prison. If we really wanted to help people escape the criminal lifestyle, we would have to in my opinion; attack the source of these criminals, who could've been prevented from being criminals, had they had better education, better role models and a safer neighbourhood to live in. I do agree with you that the Canadian government has done a good job compared to other countries, with regards to rehabilitation programs for these criminals but there is always room for improvement.
Since people are in prison anyways why not make the use of it and educate them? Many people feel guilty and don't want to commit any crimes again so educating them and helping them would be amazing, even if it is just given them books for leisure time. When prisoners come out of prison it is hard for them to adjust, but with education they can become a better person. I also think that this method isn't for everybody and people who have committed major offences shouldn't even have the audacity to ask for education.
I believe that attempting to rehabilitate people is a much better solution to the problem of criminals than putting them into prison. We don't truly know that every person will benefit from rehabilitation, but it is best to try, because good result may come of it.
I'm not too sure that would really work out because it leaves big risks for careless mistakes when we put our trust in these criminals to change. It's more of a "which option is better, and considers everyone's lives?" rather than a "let's give it a try to give them a chance". In the system which takes care of criminals, giving them a chance would waste time, energy, money, resources, etc. in rehab. This is offering them so much, and in my opinion, baby-ing them to fit back into society to become a good person. It is a nice thing to do, but in reality we have bigger problems on our list to take care of. Those criminals made a choice. They have to deal with the consequences. Besides, it's not like they didn't know they would get caught and be serving jail time for their crimes. Most importantly, we cannot afford to play around with the lives of other innocent people by feeling sorry for criminals, and letting a threat loose once again.
I believe it is the governments job to lock them up because there are people who work in prisons and they could lose there jobs. Criminals choose to make the wrong decision, sure they could get another chance but if they make it again and again no one would want them around and if they did it would be too dangerous to be in a society with them.
Before deciding on any kind of rehabilitation program, one must first pay attention to the primary purpose of prisons: separating the criminals from the rest of society. Jail is a punishment, but far more important is that these dangerous people are prevented from causing any more harm to the rest of the world. That being said, I believe that more effort should be put into the rehabilitation of minor and non-violent criminals, such as drug addicts. It is often said that going to prison is effectively a death sentence for a minor, as once you are labeled a criminal by the system, it's impossible to get out. A more comprehensive rehabilitation system is needed, but going to far could be quite dangerous, and easily abused.
Hey Omar :) Great question!
ReplyDeleteIt would probably be a good idea for our government to rehabilitate criminals since all human beings make mistakes and it is with a second chance that they make a change to become a better person, usually. With that, we also need to consider that not all criminals will change their ways, which is dangerous to others if they are set free. Also, it would put out a message to society that it is alright to be a criminal because there are no extreme punishments or lengthy prison time. For the safety of others, and to be fair, criminals who have been a threat to society should be locked up regardless of the fact that prisons could be overcrowded and costly.
- Zainab Elsayed
I am going to agree with Zainab's thought.They should be given a second chance. The people who are not in prison get second chances all the time. What makes the people inside of the prison any different. Just because they commit a crime does not mean they are no longer human beings. They deserve a chance to change their ways. If some of them do not change there ways then just send them back into prison until they are ready to be changed. I understand old habits/ways are hard to break, but if we don't try we won't know for sure.
ReplyDeleteHey Mohamed,
ReplyDeleteThat does make sense, but I think we should more consider the safety of innocent people first because by letting the criminals loose, it is increasing a risk of others getting hurt when really it could be prevented. I think it is more important to consider the lives of the majority of people who are innocent rather than feel sorry for criminals who have made reckless choices.
That is a very good point Zainab, we should focus on making sure that the public is safe from these criminals. Although I think we should try to focus more on rehabilitating these people so that they won't re-offend as oppose to locking them up forever, but it does depend on the person and the severity of their crime.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I would say that everyone deserves a second chance and should have the opportunity to change themselves into a better person.Even though there may a lot of criminals in prison, and a lot of money is being spent, unfortunately these are the consequences that needs to face. Of course the wrong things that we do, always comes in with a punishment, however I guess it just really depends on the level of crime itself as said from OA.
ReplyDeleteThe should government steer more into the direction of rehabilitating prisoners into becoming productive members of society so they do not re-offend because sometime crimes are accidents or several prisoners learn from their mistake and it is normal for human beings to make mistakes, which the government needs to realize. Besides if the government helps prisoners to rehab jails, won’t be to overly crowded; since the ones who deserve to have a second chance will be in rehab. In addition, regardless the level of crime it all comes down to the individual whether the individual is willing to change and has learned the lesson that was taught.
ReplyDeleteOur government’s way of rehabilitating criminals is by sending people who did not abide the law to prison. This is really dumb, but what else can they do how else can they make criminals change? People who go to jail usually come out only more evil than ever more angry and have more experience of how to live an illegal lifestyle from socialising with other convicts. What can you do some people do learn their lesson and try to stick to being on the good side of the law. I think in Canada we are lucky because we have a good government and programs especially for offenders. People go to different programs for rehab like to psychiatrists, anger management and drug or substance abuse rehab. Many countries don’t have near such things they give criminals time and make them rot from the inside. I do believe programs like these do help criminals but for one to make a change they really have to want it. Spending time and money on people who would go and do their acts again is really depressing.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point Denis, which makes me refer back to my original question of how we can stop these small time offenders from going through the revolving door of prison. If we really wanted to help people escape the criminal lifestyle, we would have to in my opinion; attack the source of these criminals, who could've been prevented from being criminals, had they had better education, better role models and a safer neighbourhood to live in. I do agree with you that the Canadian government has done a good job compared to other countries, with regards to rehabilitation programs for these criminals but there is always room for improvement.
ReplyDeleteSince people are in prison anyways why not make the use of it and educate them? Many people feel guilty and don't want to commit any crimes again so educating them and helping them would be amazing, even if it is just given them books for leisure time. When prisoners come out of prison it is hard for them to adjust, but with education they can become a better person. I also think that this method isn't for everybody and people who have committed major offences shouldn't even have the audacity to ask for education.
ReplyDeleteI believe that attempting to rehabilitate people is a much better solution to the problem of criminals than putting them into prison. We don't truly know that every person will benefit from rehabilitation, but it is best to try, because good result may come of it.
ReplyDeleteTo AliciaMaltby' comment above,
ReplyDeleteI'm not too sure that would really work out because it leaves big risks for careless mistakes when we put our trust in these criminals to change. It's more of a "which option is better, and considers everyone's lives?" rather than a "let's give it a try to give them a chance". In the system which takes care of criminals, giving them a chance would waste time, energy, money, resources, etc. in rehab. This is offering them so much, and in my opinion, baby-ing them to fit back into society to become a good person. It is a nice thing to do, but in reality we have bigger problems on our list to take care of. Those criminals made a choice. They have to deal with the consequences. Besides, it's not like they didn't know they would get caught and be serving jail time for their crimes. Most importantly, we cannot afford to play around with the lives of other innocent people by feeling sorry for criminals, and letting a threat loose once again.
I believe it is the governments job to lock them up because there are people who work in prisons and they could lose there jobs. Criminals choose to make the wrong decision, sure they could get another chance but if they make it again and again no one would want them around and if they did it would be too dangerous to be in a society with them.
ReplyDeleteBefore deciding on any kind of rehabilitation program, one must first pay attention to the primary purpose of prisons: separating the criminals from the rest of society. Jail is a punishment, but far more important is that these dangerous people are prevented from causing any more harm to the rest of the world. That being said, I believe that more effort should be put into the rehabilitation of minor and non-violent criminals, such as drug addicts. It is often said that going to prison is effectively a death sentence for a minor, as once you are labeled a criminal by the system, it's impossible to get out. A more comprehensive rehabilitation system is needed, but going to far could be quite dangerous, and easily abused.
ReplyDelete