Alternatives to Incarceration
Overcrowding in prisons is one of the major reasons that is contributing to the demand for alternative methods of incarceration. Prisons have failed to provide full rehabilitation to criminals and have led to an increased number of inmates being drawn into crime. Inmates are exposed to poor living conditions while serving their term in prison which affects the process of transformation and instead of becoming better, the prisoners end up becoming worse than they were. It is in prison that petty criminals meet with felons and may be recruited into the tendency to commit bigger crimes when they are set free since most inmates lack proper employment after being released. It is, therefore, necessary that alternatives to incarceration be used in conjunction with the criminal justice system to rehabilitate offenders and minimize cases of crime.
Use of non-custodial sanctions as an alternative to incarceration such as imposing fines on small offenders offers better and longer protection. Many petty offenders find themselves in prison which alienates them from society, an occurrence that denies them an opportunity for better employment in the future. Having petty offenders in prison adds to the unnecessary overcrowding in prison which has numerous negative consequences such as increased tendencies to crime (Home, et al., 2014). Fines act as wake up call to the offenders and will be able to carry on with life more diligently. Besides fines, periodic detention can be provided to minor offenders where they are held in prison periodically and are free to continue with their work on days they are not in prison. The method of periodic detention is less expensive for both the government and the prison administration. It helps to minimize overcrowding in prisons which translates to less stress on the staff and violence within the prison.
Community-based alternatives such as group/family counseling for first-time criminals can be applied. The therapy forums within a familiar environment minimize the likelihood of an offender repeating criminal activities and helps protect the criminal’s social status. By avoiding prison for the first time minor offenders, the population in prisons is minimized. It also helps to minimize the risk of engaging in more violent behavior through the oppressive conditions in prison which may result in reincarceration. Using mental health facilities to rehabilitate offender with mental health issues instead of normal prisons is an alternative (Raphael, 2014). Exposing mentally ill offenders to a prison environment that is violent and stressful will only elevate their condition leading to extra expenses on the side of the prison administration as they are forced to treat the condition.
Using alternative incarceration saves the taxpayers money. An estimate of about $28,000 is used to keep just one inmate for a year (FAMM, 2011). Minimizing overcrowding in the prisons by using alternative programs will then automatically minimize expenditure in the prisons hence saving money. Courts get a variety of option in their sentencing since each offender and crime is unique in that, sentencing an offender to jail may not solve the problem. Having options, therefore, enables the court to choose an option that will be cost-effective and the will best provide rehabilitation to the offender.
Conclusion
A number of inmates that leave prison are known to engage in crimes and are subject to be put in prison again. Therefore, most alternative programs allow them to engage in meaningful income generating activities while still interacting with their families hence minimizing tendencies to engage in crime. Some facilities such as the mental illness centers are known to handle the underlying cause of the criminal behavior hence preventing the offenders from causing harm to the public in the future.
References
FAMM. (2011). Alternatives to incarceration in a nutshell.
Home, C. L. A. J., Mission, C. L. A. J., Staff, C. L. A. J., & Brochure, C. L. A. J. (2014). The Growth of Incarceration in the United States Exploring Causes and Consequences.
Raphael, S. (2014). How do we reduce incarceration rates while maintaining public safety? Criminology & Pub. Pol’y, 13, 579.
