The prison system initially prioritized rehabilitation but later transitioned towards punishment. Nowadays, it is widely acknowledged that rehabilitation plays an essential role in the criminal justice system. Foster (2006) defines rehabilitation as deliberate strategies implemented to diminish the probability of recidivism by transforming an offender's personality, conduct, competencies, outlooks, principles or other factors.
The objective of prisons is to prevent individuals who have committed crimes from posing a threat to society. This can be achieved through rehabilitation, which aims to equip them with the necessary skills to become law-abiding citizens and make positive contributions. In the past, the U.S prison policy concentrated on rehabilitation until the 1970s when inmates were urged to develop vocational abilities and address mental health concerns such as addiction or violent behavior that could impede their reintegration into society (Benson, 2003). However, there has bee
...n less emphasis on rehabilitation in recent years leading to stricter punishments and an eventual increase in the number of inmates housed within correctional facilities.
The initial aim of prisons was to inspire offenders to reform and feel remorse, yet the emphasis soon changed to manual labor. This shift occurred because it proved profitable and decreased costs associated with maintenance and cooking. Eventually, it became apparent that a significant number of inmates struggled with mental illness or lacked education. As a result, prisons began implementing psychological treatment programs and educational resources.
In the past, rehabilitation programs focused solely on rehabilitating prisoners. Nowadays, modern rehabilitation programs tackle a range of issues including substance abuse, thinking patterns, faith-based programs, work and holistic wellness (Foster, 2006, p. 394-395). According to the National Museum of Crime ;amp; Punishment (2008), imprisonment serves the purpose of
rehabilitating by exposing prisoners to negative experiences in prison and promoting positive behaviors through various programs. These programs also aim to alter offenders' behavior both during their time in prison and after their release.
The proper execution of rehabilitation programs has a beneficial effect on the prison environment and society. Emphasizing rehabilitation would lead to the release of more law-abiding citizens instead of repeat offenders, resulting in safer communities and decreased overcrowding in prisons. Regrettably, rehabilitation has not been given enough attention in recent times.
To enhance rehabilitation, it is my belief that the rehabilitation programs should be modernized. It is crucial that all the staff members who will be involved in the rehabilitation programs undergo thorough training and periodic monitoring of the outcome of their participants. This will ensure that the precise methods are being implemented. In summary, the benefits of rehabilitation are not limited to only the prisoners but also the society. Although it is not always successful for every inmate, research has proven that prioritizing rehabilitation programs can significantly reduce inmate count and create productive citizens. References: Benson, E.
(2003). Should we focus on rehabilitating offenders or imposing punishment? Retrieved from http://www.apa.
Burk Foster authored "Corrections: The Fundamentals" in 2006 and it is available on the CJS230-Introduction to Corrections website. The National Museum of Crime & Punishment has also published information in 2008.
Retrieved from http://www. crimemuseum. org, the text discusses the rehabilitative effects of imprisonment.
- alcoholism essays
- Smoking essays
- Casino essays
- Tobacco essays
- Heroin essays
- Social Media Addiction essays
- Cell Phone Addiction essays
- Tobacco Smoking essays
- Effects Of Smoking essays
- Chief Executive Officer essays
- Convenience Store essays
- Firm essays
- Training And Development essays
- Unilever essays
- Variable Cost essays
- Virgin Group essays
- Bargaining essays
- Entity essays
- Pest analysis essays
- Criminal Justice System essays
- Leadership and Management essays
- Change Management essays
- Project Management essays
- Knowledge Management essays
- Operations Management essays
- Quality Management essays
- Risk Management essays
- Scientific Management essays
- supply chain management essays
- Performance Management essays
- Time Management essays
- Brand Management essays
- Total Quality Management essays
- Risk essays
- Manager essays
- Leadership essays
- Business Ethics essays
- Board Of Directors essays
- Product Management essays
- Comparative Analysis essays
- Decision Making essays
- Dispute Resolution essays
- Stress Management essays
- Business Management essays
- Brand Equity essays
- Branding essays
- Nike, Inc. essays
- Market share essays
- Razor essays
- Being A Leader essays
