Alternative to Prison
The author of this brief repot has been asked to respond to an idea that is increasing in volume and prevalence in modern American society. Indeed, the incarceration rate for people in general is rather high and law enforcement agencies are seeking ways to lower offender rates in the first place and lower recidivism rates for those that end up offending anyway. There is indeed a nasty cycle whereby people get into the "system" once and then they keep reoffending and subsequently keeping getting jailed for their continued offenses. An essay that was reviewed in advance of this report suggests some education-based ways to at least try to prevent future offenses and expunge the records of offenders. While the author of this response does agree with the idea of the essay in general, there has to be some exceptions and special handling depending on the nature, severity and level of violence for the crime involved.
Analysis
The idea put forward in the essay reviewed for this report is a good one on paper. However, there are three ways in which it needs to be massaged and considered so as to maximize the results and not waste time on people that are not interested in doing the right thing (even when offered) and/or that should be in jail. Beyond that, poverty is a driver for a lot of crime. Technically, the people that are poor and that commit crimes (violent ones in particular) are absolutely responsible for what they do and should not even try to use their empty wallets as a crutch to support their crime. However, it is still a fact that crime would be less than what it currently is if poverty did not exist on the level that it did. The same poverty dynamic affects education in inner city and similar areas in much the same way, that being very negatively.
In any event, the first example that should be added to the ideas of the reviewed essay is that violent criminals should not be given as much (if any) mercy, chances at expungement and so forth as more docile and less violent offenders. Indeed, a man raping a woman should absolutely be in jail (and for a long time) while a person who steals a bike but has an otherwise clean record should absolutely get a second chance. Indeed, the nature of the offense does matter and so does how contrite and regretful the person is when they enter the court room. If they are defiant and unapologetic, an attempt at redemption should potentially be rescinded until they realize (if ever) the gravity of the path they are on.
Second, what was just mentioned in the last section is another...
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