This substantiates the concept that simply building more correctional facilities will only exacerbate the problem, as it will probably fill up even faster than it can be completed. Moses Wright (2007) notes that there is light at the end of the tunnel. An increasing number of critics and professionals are recognizing the possibilities of rehabilitation as opposed to imprisonment. Rehabilitation has a number of advantages. Most notably, it will discourage repeat offending and thus reduce the number of prisoners who return to prison after only a short time. In addition, rehabilitation programs will both help those participating and other prisoners for whom an example is provided to become worthy contributors to society. Furthermore, rehabilitation will also relieve society of those repeat offenders who are never apprehended and thus continue to have the opportunity to commit their crimes. It therefore appears that rehabilitation programs could be much more effective in reducing both crime and prisoners, while providing society with a greater sense of security. The best way to address crime in the country however is starting early via preventive and education programs at the early school level.

A b) I believe that the greatest crime problem faced by many American communities today is gangsterism and other forms of youth delinquency. These, when left unchecked, tend to lead to more serious crimes, and delinquents grow up to become criminals and possibly eventual prison inmates. As seen above, the prison system is often harsh, unforgiving and inescapable. Like the prison system, delinquent facilities often lack the ability to reform the youngsters entrusted to them, often for the same reasons that prisons...

In this way, a pathway is created for youth delinquents to become adult criminals. To prevent this future, the best way is to implement preventive and education programs at schools.
Clearly neither the current prison system nor delinquent facilities are effective in preventing the problem of crime or in rehabilitating existing criminals. For this reason, I feel it is better to provide preventive measures that will discourage children from criminal activities at an early age. Such programs should include elements such as the dangers of the crimes generally committed by young people, including drug and alcohol abuse, shoplifting, and damages to property. Children should be made aware that there are consequences for such actions, and that society is being harmed if crimes are committed. An awareness of consequence and the network of victims involved in crimes is often lost upon young criminals. Making them aware of both this and the consequences to themselves and their loved ones can then serve as a discouraging element in educating young people about crime.

Sources

Davis, Matthews (2006, April 7). The World's Biggest Prison System. BBC News, Washington. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4858580.stm

Patel, Roopal & McMurray, Peter. The Prison Dilemma: America's Penal System Makes a Mockery of Democracy. Harvard. http://www.digitas.harvard.edu/~perspy/old/issues/2000/apr/prison.html

Wright, Moses. (2007). Criminal Rehabilitation: Working towards a better life for prisoners and their families. http://ezinearticles.com/?Criminal-Rehabilitation-Working-Towards-a-Better-Life-for-Inmates-and-Their-Families&id=455250