Rehabilitation of Felony Offenders Many

Rehabilitation of Felony Offenders

Many an article has been written on the evils of incarceration and prison life. And indeed these articles hold a great many truths. Prisons are overcrowded. The conditions in these prisons are furthermore very much conducive towards further offenses instead of rehabilitation and the return of the inmate to society as a productive member of such a society. Indeed, the lack of rehabilitation programs in prisons has perpetuated the problem of crime and overcrowded prisons, both in the United States and other countries. Rehabilitation of the convicted felon is therefore not only possible, but also desirable.

All human beings are able to learn and change given the correct incentives and circumstances. Many prisoners are involved in felonies as a result of circumstances or perceived needs for acceptance by peers. If this can be changed through targeted rehabilitation programs, it could be possible to create a better world in which even the convict can learn to live in peace.

Sadly, this is generally not the case. In an article published by PrisonerLife.com (2004), the author focuses specifically on Florida. In this state, prisoners are indeed incorporated in labor programs. However, these programs are targeted only towards the advantage of those benefiting from cheap labor. There is not rehabilitative function. The lack of rehabilitation programs, as mentioned above, simply perpetuates the situation that created overcrowding in prisons in the first place. Rehabilitation programs can give convicts a sense of humanity and society again.