‘criminal recidivism’ - Essay Assignment

Internal Code: MAS3441

Essay Assignment:

Prisons have four major aims. These aims are retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation. . Rehabilitation refers to activities designed to change criminals into law abiding citizens and may include providing educational courses in prison, teaching job skills and offering to counsel with a psychologist or social worker. Also is aimed at restoring people to useful life, which is based on the assumption that people are not constantly criminal. It’s aimed at preventing habitual offending ‘criminal recidivism’. Deterrence means the prevention of future crime. It is hoped that prisons provide warnings to people thinking about committing crimes and that the possibility of going to prison will discourage people from breaking the law. Furthermore is usually contrasted with retribution, as it defines punishment as a kind of threat aimed at deterring people from committing crimes in future. It is often argued that deterrence doesn’t achieve its ultimate goal, as offenders usually don’t pause to consider the future punishment before committing a crime, which is why it is practically useless. Incapacitation, Questions: Prisons in their current form have been found not to meet their intended aims and should be drastically reformed. Critically discuss.