Deviance Proposition: The Main Purpose

Deviance

Proposition: The main purpose of a prison sentence should be reforming the offender.

With the increase in the crime rates and recidivism, there is need to absolutely revamp our prisons to be and be seen to be the centers for reforming offenders in order to curb the rise in crime and have a better society generally, however this is hardly the case in the current American society.

The conditions of the prisons today in the U.S.A. do not in any way give indication or room for them to act as reform centers. The conditions of the American prisons are drug riddled, congested, inhumane treatment exists from fellow inmates and guards, poor medical attention, sexual abuse is a commonplace and immortality rate at an all time high (Prison Policy Initiative, 2011). In as much as successive governments pass legislations to try and lead the institutions towards more rehabilitation than retribution and to curb recidivism, the results are yet to be seen. Instead, with the rise in the population of the prisons within the U.S.A., the above mentioned conditions are getting worse. Jeffrey Ian (2006) in his article "Jailhouse Blues" indicates that by 2004, a whopping 3.5% (7 million) of the entire American population was confined in some form of correction facility.

The correction department has also failed to offer the rehabilitative service and yet that is the purpose for which they are instituted. There have been several initiatives targeting the officials within the correction departments as well as the inmates. Some of the outstanding ones known are postsecondary Education (PSE) and the evidence-based programs in various states like the "justice reinvestment" in Travis County among others. Most of these focus on constituting a better rehabilitation program, but above all, a proper re-integration into the society after the sentence period. This is coupled with strengthening of the probations with an aim of curbing recidivism. This resounds well with only some few social behaviorists who believe the kind of habit one portrays is a reflection of what they see in the society. However, there are many who do not believe in the notion that a stronger and better planned probation has the ability to reduce significantly the rates of recidivism. However, Dr. Tony Fabelo (2009) pioneered a project called the 'justice reinvestment' in Travis County aimed at revamping and rejuvenating the probation process. What he found at the end was that a working and well structured probation system, that is evidence based as well as tangible actions was the way out in recidivism reduction significantly and consequently reduction in the overcrowding in jails. The issue remains widely debatable, with some insisting the behavior in the jails need to be reevaluated yet some insist on the societal emphasis in curbing recidivism.

The prison systems have also failed in reduction of recidivism through a failure to insist and implementation of programs that equip the inmates with the relevant and appropriate skills in lie with their interest and the environment from where they are. The offenders who have professions of technical skills that allow them to make a living within the society in a comfortable manner are also highly likely to succeed on their probation than those without any professional training or technical skills to earn a living from. It is also note that those offenders who went through high school successfully and finished are more likely to succeed in the probation and avid recidivism even after the probation period. Once the convict is in the prison for a long sentence, there should be a well crafted program to ensure they come out of the place with skills that will enable them earn a decent living out of the prison and not fall into the temptation of getting into crime for survival. Programs like Post Secondary Correctional Education are seen and have been proven to be highly effective in creating independent people since it is implemented during the jail term and a follow up is made after the jail term to ensure the person benefited from the program as indicated by Lara W. et.al (2009). Jeffrey also further points at the General Education Development that should ensure no prison left behind. Sadly this is not the case as these programs at the evaluation are seen to be grossly inadequate and/or leaving a lot of prisons uncovered.