Prisons? Should the emphasis be on punishment or rehabilitation?

Punishment! ...f rehab.

*~ charmed ~*

I think they do, they get more help in prison then their victims sometimes but on saying that I do think they should be helped to be given a chance to correct themselves.

Mick B

No it's the wrong way, they should make them absolutely terrified of going back & I mean absolutely terrified

Ivan R

Hello,

(ANS) This is a difficult dilemma even for the experts in the field of crime and how we should deal with offenders. This is more an ethical dilemma I would say, & the problem is views on this dilemma vary so much within our society.

**Punishment:- If you "only punish" a person then that person could end up becoming more belligerent and more determined to commit some form of revenge offense upon release from prison. That just exacerbates the problem of the revolving door system of offense > prison> release>re-offense etc. But does not give back anything to society or the person/s offended against. It doesn't heal the wound if you like, the core problem just festers.

**Rehabilitation:- If you "only offer rehabilitation" without any element of punishment then that would be a totally soft option & many criminals would take advantage of this kind of scheme and probably use it to commit further crimes (because that's in the nature of a criminal way of thinking! i.e. something for nothing!! possibly).

THE MIDDLE WAY!!
I think the best approach is both carrot & stick combined, meaning a middle pathway which combines both punishment & rehabilitation. i.e. punishment is the loss of liberty i.e. the ultimate loss of freedom and rehabilitation meaning that a person in prison has to do something reasonably constructive with there time & energy. Hopeful something that might benefit society in the wider sense and may be the victim of their offense too?

Ivan

Polish

Being in prison is punishment. Remember, when the sentence is completed, they will be back out on the street. Wouldn't it be wise , if before they are released, they are rehabilitated. Warehousing people and mistreating them will not solve any problems.

Rob k

Just finished doing some work in a prison , sure does not seem like any punishment to me .

Nat

Statistically not many of those that truly deserve punishment are able to be rehabilitated. And therein lies my point.

loopy

prison's these days are like a holiday camp they got tv a kettle in their cells what kind of punishment is that

ladysunshineau

I have often thought that for some things prison is the wrong place you know you hear about these young kids who do something dumb just once and get locked up when perhaps all they really need is some help you know?

PATRICIA MS

Gotta' have both. They should be punished for the wrong they did, but have to relearn ....... or learn....society's rules

plcweaver1

Punishment Only rehabilitation does not work.

GYM

problem is prison hardly seems to be punishment for some people and rehab only works on the willing

sparkles

It should be on both but do agree with Charmed the victims don't recieve as much help as the offender.

oldstyleman_2000

The emphasis should be on education and job training from birth so that there will be less need for prison later. Pre-school is way more cost effective than prison.

mischievous

Punishment, and put me be in charge of prison visit arrangements. I'd kill off mobile phone and the drug habit immediately by insisting that the glass screen between the convicts and their visitors was brought back. Of course one would have to get rid of all the convict loving quangos first.
It's utterly disgusting that there should be in existence organisations that assist people in breaking the laws of the land.

danor

The gentle touch certainly is not working so the answer must be punishment, there wouldn't be as many re- offenders then

C.dee

surely the punishment is being sent to prison,the loss of one's liberty?people shouldn't be punished whilst in prison,unless for a breach of rules but that's different.emphasis should be on rehabilitation.

Andy

Neither - it should be a deterrent first and foremost.

That means a mix of punishment and rehabilitation for short termers and just punishment for lifers.

leopardshaz

I would have thought being incarcerated and losing your liberty was the punishment side?

Kate S

elements of both. They should be punished, but relation to the sentence and the crime.

If they are to be released into the world after a couple of years than they should be guided and helped to put their lives back on track. But if they're in there for murder or rape (or anything that warrants a long sentence) then it should be punishment not rehabilitation.

Makka Pakka

kill them all let god sort them out

my nightstick, your head

Punishment, rehab has been shown to be a dismal failure.

joan k

Punishment, prisons are supposed to be a deterrent not a holiday camp.

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