Week 3 Assignment Purpose of Corrections Punishment or Rehabilitation LEllis
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Strayer University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
410
Subject
Law
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
6
Uploaded by KidElectronCaterpillar24
Week 3 Assignment - Purpose of Corrections: Punishment, or Rehabilitation?
Week 3 Assignment - Purpose of Corrections:
Punishment, or Rehabilitation?
LaShonda Ellis
CRJ410 – Corrections
Professor Raymond Anderson
October 17, 2023
1
Week 3 Assignment - Purpose of Corrections: Punishment, or Rehabilitation?
Introduction
The criminal justice system is vital in upholding law and order within society. An integral component of this system is the corrections process, which encompasses the punishment and rehabilitation of individuals who have transgressed the law. Within corrections, four primary functions exist: retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation (Mackenzie, 1). I will differentiate between these four functions of corrections, offering contemporary and historical instances to illustrate each one. Four Functions of Corrections
Retribution entails punishing an offender that is deemed commensurate with the severity of their crime. In this context, the penalty functions as a retribution, fulfilling society's yearning for justice. Unlike rehabilitation, retribution does not strive to reform or rehabilitate the offender; instead, its primary objective is to penalize them for their transgressions. A prime illustration of retribution in the criminal justice system is the imposition of the death penalty, reserved for the most egregious offenses, including acts of murder (Center, 2). These punishments are typically seen as morally or ethically justified by society, as the country's criminal laws predominantly determine them. The central tenet of this correction approach is to ensure that the consequences faced by criminals align with the harm suffered by their victims. The existence of this system is crucial, as without it, the public might take justice into their own hands, seeking vengeance independently. A significant portion of the US population holds a favorable view of this form of correction and believes in the importance of retribution, sometimes even to the extent of capital punishment. For instance, when it comes to pedophilic and rape offenders, many US citizens support the harshest possible penalties. They view a 2
Week 3 Assignment - Purpose of Corrections: Punishment, or Rehabilitation?
system that does not adequately make criminals suffer as ineffective and lose faith in such a system.
Deterrence is a strategy designed to thwart the commission of crimes by instituting sufficiently severe penalties to dissuade individuals from engaging in unlawful activities. The core concept here is that when people are aware of the gravity of punishment associated with a
particular crime, they are less inclined to commit it. Deterrence can be classified into two distinct forms: specific and general. Specific deterrence focuses on discouraging the offender from reoffending by penalizing their actions. In contrast, general deterrence aims to dissuade the broader public from criminal activities by publicly punishing wrongdoers. Illustrative instances of deterrence within the criminal justice system encompass the use of mandatory minimum sentences, the implementation of three-strikes laws, and the application of capital punishment. Incapacitation involves isolating an offender from society to prevent any potential recurrence of criminal acts. This objective can be accomplished through methods such as incarceration, life sentences, or, in some instances, the imposition of the death penalty. The underlying rationale behind incapacitation is that by removing an offender from the general population, the opportunity for them to commit additional crimes is effectively nullified. Unlike rehabilitation, incapacitation is not geared towards reforming or rehabilitating the offender; its primary purpose is safeguarding society by eliminating the offender. Notable examples of incapacitation within the criminal justice system include life imprisonment and mandatory minimum sentences. Rehabilitation strives to transform offenders and mitigate their
propensity for future criminal conduct. This endeavor is realized through a multifaceted approach, including education, vocational training, therapy, and various support mechanisms. 3
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Week 3 Assignment - Purpose of Corrections: Punishment, or Rehabilitation?
The overarching objective of rehabilitation is to facilitate the reintegration of offenders into society as constructive and law-abiding members, thereby diminishing the likelihood of recidivism. Illustrative rehabilitation instances within the criminal justice system encompass initiatives such as drug and alcohol treatment programs, counselling, and vocational training.
The United States has the highest per capita incarceration rate since the early 1900s. Over recent decades, the number of inmates and the average prison sentence length have increased (Renshaw, 3). Within the United States, retribution remains the dominant form of punishment, while deterrence is less widely embraced as a method for controlling crime. Incapacitation, to punish criminals, is employed far less frequently than retribution. Moreover, retribution is more commonly utilized to deter criminal activity, while rehabilitation is applied much less often.
In recent decades, the portion of the punishment spectrum attributed to incarceration has expanded. The availability of correctional facilities and the length of average prison sentences have risen. This heightened reliance on imprisonment as a method of crime control has not been witnessed since the early 1900s. Retribution remains the primary method of addressing criminal behavior in the United States, whereas deterrence is less favored. Incapacitation, as a deterrent to illegal actions, is less widely used than retribution. Rehabilitation is employed far less frequently than punishment in the context of addressing criminal behavior.
Advancements in prison systems as a form of punishment, the utilization of retribution to correct criminal behavior, and rehabilitation as a method for addressing criminal conduct all 4
Week 3 Assignment - Purpose of Corrections: Punishment, or Rehabilitation?
hold promise. Utilizing prisons as a deterrent to criminal behavior shows significant potential to reduce crime. Retribution remains a promising approach to reducing criminal behavior. With its track record of effectively reintegrating ex-convicts, rehabilitation also holds promise as an approach to addressing criminal conduct.
5
Week 3 Assignment - Purpose of Corrections: Punishment, or Rehabilitation?
Sources:
1.
Doris Layton Mackenzie. No Date. Sentencing and Corrections in the 21st Century: Setting the Stage for the Future. https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/archives/ncjrs/189106-2.pdf
2.
Death Penalty Information Center. No Date. The Death Penalty Is Not Limited to the Worst of the Worst. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/arbitrariness/death-
penalty-is-not-limited-to-the-worst-of-the-worst
3.
Benjamin H. Renshaw III. No Date. Prisoners 1925-81. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/p2581.pdf
4.
Karen Heseltine. January 5, 2011. Prison-based correctional offender rehabilitation programs: The 2009 national picture in Australia. https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/rpp/rpp112
6
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help