Theoretical
Approaches to Punishment
I believe in
punishment for those that break the law.
But, the ethical dilemma is the law fair and just to everyone. While serving as a sheriff deputy I have seen
those who were charged with a crime that could afford attorney receive less
time behind bars then those with court appointed public defenders. This is because public defenders lack the
experience and resources of a paid attorney.
Their clients who are usually poor do not receive the appropriate
representation which contributes to longer jail or prison term. Once incarcerated these newly convict
criminal are exposed to the worst society has to offer. In most cases either they become victimized
by these individual or skilled in the art of criminalization.(Banks, 2013)
Secondly
punishment does not always stop individual from committing further crimes. In a Pew Center study on national recidivism
reports that 4 out of 10 offender’s returns to prison 3 years after being
released this statistic remains unchanged over several years. Even after many states launched programs to
help those re-enter society it still has no effect on the recidivism rate. The Pew’s Public Safety Performance Project
study analyzed 41 states where inmates were released from prison in 1999
through 2007 results found by 2002 over 45% of these inmates returned to prison
and by 2007 over 43% returned. (Johnson, 2011)
Finally the
results of punishment through lengthy prison sentences does serve as a
deterrent for those who are contemplating breaking the law. The news media plays a major role in
publicizing result of trials in newspapers, magazines, and internet webpages
and gives various techniques used by law enforcement how crimes are
investigated and solved. This also
deters members of society to commit crime because of the fear of getting
caught.(Banks, 2013)
Banks, C. (2013). Criminal justice ethics.
(3rd ed., pp. 115-116). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE
Johnson, K. (2011, April 13). Prison failing to deter repeat
criminals in 41 states. USATODAY.
Retrieved from: http://
usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-04-12-Prison-recidivism-rates-hold-steady.htm//
