This essay will explore theories of crime and the causes of crime along with the roles of prisons and the punishments for criminal offences. To conclude this essay will research prison conditions and statistics, comparing this with other countries and alternatives.
According to the Oxford dictionary ‘crime’ is defined as, “An action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law.” (**) Wilson and Herrnstein confirm this definition – “any act committed in violation of a law that prohibits it and authorizes punishment for its commission.” (p22 1986) Criminology has concentrated its research primarily “at elucidating the connection between crime and the personal characteristics of the offender or his environment.” Hurwitz
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These are; choice, classical, critical, conflict and labelling theory. In choice theory individuals will choose to commit a crime by “weighing the benefit versus the punishment” Tania (2014), and the opportunities that derive from committing a crime. People are normally frightened and dissuaded by the punishments involved with crimes but choice theory recognizes that everyone has a choice to proceed with they’re actions. Classical theory resembles choice theory in the way that “actions are taken and decisions are made by persons in the rational exercise of free will.” Akers (p16 2007) On the other hand, Conflict theory is different, it looks at societies structure to explain deviant behaviour. “Certain types of people have access to fewer resources in capitalist society and are forced into deviance and crime to sustain themselves” Anderson and Taylor (p177 2007) Anderson and Taylor explain that “the high rate of economic crimes such as theft, robbery, prostitution and drug selling among the poorest groups, as a result of the economic status of these groups.” (p117 2007) It is thought that the criminal justice systems policies are intended to manage the poor and work in favour of the rich and powerful, allowing the social elites to enforce a moral code for good behaviour on the whole society. Critical theory is similar to conflict theory as it recognizes “that a small …show more content…
The most familiar punishment known is imprisonment. A prison is defined as, “A building to which people are legally committed a s a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.” Oxford Dictionary. Sharma is in agreement with this definition as he writes, the idea of prisons exclude the criminal from the society so that he may realize and learn that deviant life does not pay and that he must accept the discipline of the society. (p42 1998)
Prisons “play a key role in assuring higher levels of human security and social order.” Drake (p1 2012). Prisons aren’t just a punishment and detainment facility but also handle more complex problems ranging from; substance abuse, family breakdown, mental health issues and other social issues. Prisons therefore are believed to provide five further services; rehabilitation, incapacitation, deterrence (from future offending) general prevention (deterrence from committing crime in the first place) and the delivery of justice. Drake (p2
In Western cultures imprisonment is the universal method of punishing criminals (Chapman 571). According to criminologists locking up criminals may not even be an effective form of punishment. First, the prison sentences do not serve as an example to deter future criminals, which is indicated, in the increased rates of criminal behavior over the years. Secondly, prisons may protect the average citizen from crimes but the violence is then diverted to prison workers and other inmates. Finally, inmates are locked together which impedes their rehabilitation and exposes them too more criminal
Throughout his novel, Texas Tough: The Rise of America’s Prison Empire, author and professor Robert Perkinson outlines the three current dominant purposes of prison. The first, punishment, is the act of disciplining offenders in an effort to prevent them from recommitting a particular crime. Harsh punishment encourages prisoners to behave because many will not want to face the consequences of further incarceration. While the purpose of punishment is often denounced, many do agree that prison should continue to be used as a means of protecting law-abiding citizens from violent offenders. The isolation of inmates, prison’s second purpose, exists to protect the public. Rehabilitation is currently the third purpose of prison. Rehabilitation is considered successful when a prisoner does n...
The current criminal justice system is expensive to maintain. In North America the cost to house one prisoner is upwards of eighty to two hundred dollars a day (Morris, 2000). The bulk of this is devoted to paying guards and security (Morris, 2000). In contrast with this, community oriented programming as halfway houses cost less than the prison alternative. Community programming costs five to twenty five dollars a day, and halfway houses although more expensive than community programs still remain cheaper than prison (Morris, 2000). Tabibi (2015c) states that approximately ninety percent of those housed in prison are non-violent offenders. The treatment of offenders in the current system is understood to be unjust. By this, Morris (2000) explains that we consistently see an overrepresentation of indigenous and black people in the penal system. Corporate crimes are largely omitted, while street crimes are emphasized (Morris, 2000). This disproportionately targets marginalized populations (homeless, drug addicted and the poor) (Tabibi, 2015c). The current system is immoral in that the caging of people is highly depersonalized and troubling (Tabibi, 2015c). This is considered to be a barbaric practice of the past, however it is still frequently used in North America (Morris, 2000). Another moral consideration is with the labelling of youth as offenders in the criminal justice system (Morris, 2000). Morris (2000) argues that we should see youth crimes as a social failure, not as an individual level failure. Next, Morris (2000) classifies prisons as a failure. Recidivism rates are consistently higher for prisons than for other alternatives (Morris, 2000). The reason for this is that prisons breed crime. A school for crime is created when a person is removed from society and labeled; they become isolated, angry
Morrison, W. (2009) 'What is crime? Contrasting definitions and perspectives', in C. Hale, K. Hayward, A. Wahadin and E. Wincup, (eds), Criminology. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Prisons are institutionalized systems that hold people hostage against their will. Many believe that these institutions are fundamental to keeping balance within society. Although prison systems are meant to seclude troubled individuals, they should go beyond just containing criminals. The judicial system is responsible for correcting and eliminating future delinquent behavior before they can be effectively re-suspended back into society. In saying this, the court system does not implement these actions within prison systems, failing to fulfil the goals and the function of the prison overall.
There are several types of punishment that can be inflicted upon an offender including, fines, community sanctions and imprisonment (The Judicial Conference of Australia, 2007). Punishment is described as a sanction which inflicts a certain amount of pain and loss on the offender, used for payback and deter (The Judicial Conference of Australia, 2007; Carlsmith, Darley, & Robinson, 2002). There are three ways society justifies punishing offenders, through the
Even excluding to consider the civil ramifications of imprisonment, the current standpoint neglects other measures effects. These incorporate damaging, faculty of crime and the crimes within the prison. Prison is a school of crime in which criminals first learn and then improve their skills at criminal behavior and create connections with other criminals. This account implies that incarceration removes prisoners from social networks connected with employment and instead connects them to associate with criminal activity. Some scholars have argued that incarceration does not necessarily reduce crime but merely relocates it behind bars. Increasing incarceration while ignoring more effective approaches will impose a heavy burden upon curst, corrections and communities, while providing a marginal impact on
It is said that prison should be used for more serious crimes such as rape, assault, homicide and robbery (David, 2006). Because the U.S. Prison is used heavily for punishment and prevention of crime, correctional systems in the U.S. tend to be overcrowded (David, 2006). Even though prisons in the U.S. Are used for privies on of crime it doesn 't work. In a 2002 federal study, 67% of inmates that
As the current prison structures and sentencing process continues to neglect the issues that current offenders have no change will accrue to prevent recidivism. The issue with the current structure of the prison sentencing process is it does not deal with the “why” the individual is an social deviant but only looks at the punishment process to remove the deviant from society. This method does not allow an offender to return back to society without continuing where they left off. As an offender is punished they are sentenced (removal from society) they continue in an isolated environment (prison) after their punishment time is completed and are released back to society they are now an outsider to the rapidly changing social environment. These individuals are returned to society without any coping skills, job training, or transitional training which will prevent them from continuing down th...
Part of the punishment is the elements prisoners must endure while imprisonment. The conditions in prisons can be characterized as harsh and unbearable at times. Cold daunting cells and prison overcrowding evoke mediocracy living conditions (Herzing 2015). Yes, payment for crimes should match the crimes committed. Murders, rapes, and all other odious crimes should evoke a place of lack luster conditions to those of such criminal background (Washington 2016). The amenities once enjoyed by an individual in society should be taken away, if convicted of a crime. The freewill to go to the store, or a movie, to live in certain neighborhoods, should be entities lost due to criminal behavior. Besides the loss of freedoms, how should the prison system effect prisoners?
Although it may not seem like a major problem to most people in the United States, prisons are becoming overcrowded, expensive to maintain and have little to no effect on the moral discipline of inmates. The current prison system is extremely inefficient and the purpose of prisons has been completely forgotten. According to Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, the primary purpose of prisons is to punish, to protect, and to rehabilitate. Not only is there an increase in prisoners, but there is a rise in the number of repeat offenders. Alternatives such as counseling, drug rehabilitation, education, job training and victim restitution must be better enforced and organized. People do not understand the severity of the problem mainly because
Prison was designed to house and isolate criminals away from the society in order for our society and the people within it to function without the fears of the outlaws. The purpose of prison is to deter and prevent people from committing a crime using the ideas of incarceration by taking away freedom and liberty from those individuals committed of crimes. Prisons in America are run either by the federal, states or even private contractors. There are many challenges and issues that our correctional system is facing today due to the nature of prisons being the place to house various types of criminals. In this paper, I will address and identify three major issues that I believe our correctional system is facing today using my own ideas along with the researches from three reputable outside academic sources.
Conflict theorist view deviance as rules applied by those in power to coerce normalcy in society. Conflict theorist view crime and deviance perilous to those in power, therefore, law is an instrument use to control powerless groups of people. According to Spitzer (1975),” Problem populations tend to share a number of social characteristics, but most important among these is the fact that their behavior, personal qualities, and or position threaten the social relations of production in capitalistic society” pp.642. Conflict theorist argues law is a resource, groups of power utilize that resource to their own benefit, false consciousness. Conflict theorist view crime as a struggle between the classes the haves and the have-nots.
The correctional system punishes offenders by sentencing them to serve time in jail or prison. Others forms of punishment include being sentenced to probation, community service, and/or restitution. Jail is a locally operated short-term confinement facilities originally built to hold suspects following arrest and pending trial (Schmalleger, 2009). A prison is state or ...
The use of prison as a form of punishment began to become popular in the early 19th century. This was because transportation to colonies had started to decrease; transportation was the removing of an individual, in this case an offender, from its country to another country; usually for a period of seven to ten years and in some cases for ever. During this time prison was now being used as a means for punishment, this was in response to the declining of transportation to colonies. Thus, instead of transporting offenders to other colonies they were now being locked away behind high walls of the prison. Coyle (2005). To say whether using prison as a form of punishment has aid in the quest of tackling the crime problem one must first consider the purposes of the prison.