The Pros And Cons Of Prison Rehabilitation

Although the United States is home to one-twentieth of the world’s population, “we house almost one-quarter of its prisoners” (Lee, Michelle Ye Hee). Over half of these inmates are repeat offenders and return to prison within five years of release. We, as tax-paying Americans, are spending money on reoccurring issues rather than trying to propose a solution to them. Our best bet is to implement rehabilitation programs, similar to those present in other countries’ prison system, that teaches convicts other devices and trades in which they can use upon being released. We should also renovate our prisons to make less resemble animal cages and more resemble normal living facilities of human beings. By doing so, we are not only saving money, but

Prison cells are cramped and overcrowded, prisoners are exposed to violence and sexual abuse, and the morale is at a constant low. A large percentage of these inmates are mentally ill, and the environment contributes to their psyche and behavior. Living in a cell that is six by eight feet can be compared to whales living in swimming pools for a decent amount of their life, which would not be legal due to the inhumanity of the circumstances. Although rehabilitative services are available in the majority of prisons, they spend their time and resources focused on those suffering from severe mental illnesses, rather than substance abusers or those transitioning back into the outer community. Also, current services offered lack goals, plans, or comprehensive policies, proving them to be ineffective and inconsistent. Not only should more rehabilitative services and counselors be available to inmates, but physical changes should be made in order to boost morale. One of the world’s lowest incarceration and recidivism rates come from Norway. Their prisons try to maintain as much normalcy as in the outside world as possible, this means “no bars on the windows, kitchens fully equipped with sharp objects, and friendships between guards and inmates” (Sterbenz, Christina). Inmates are prepared for freedom by being introduced to different trades and talents through classes such as woodworking and assembly. Prisoners should be placed in facilities closest to their homes to help promote familial visitations and relations, building a support system for the future. The United States’ prison system punishes their inmates with inhumane conditions, but the punishment itself should be losing their freedom. All criminals, even those who committed petty crimes, are submitted to the same conditions which can put them in further decline then they were before they were sent to prison. As they are released from