English composition-Confinement or Treatment-repost - Assignment Example

I agree with the main argument of the post that the offender’s willingness to overcome an addiction plays the crucial role in choosing treatment as an alternative to incarceration. In my view, as soon as the offender expresses the conscious wish to stop abusing drugs, he starts the process of recovery. If the person is willing to change and stop his addiction, the society should not deny him such a chance. In this view, the post provides a good example of Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. The example proves that such programs can work successfully over a long period of time and provide drug addicts a wide variety of services to change their life.

Pamela correctly stresses that such programs should be offered mainly to first and second time offenders. If the latter are incarcerated, but not educated about the dangers of drug abuse, they will not be able to realize how their punishment matches their crime. They will end up believing that they are mistreated and misjudged. Even if the first time offenders express a wish to overcome an addiction, they will not be able to do it all by themselves unless they know about the treatment programs designed to help them.

However, if such addicts are told about the alternatives offered by the treatment programs in their area but choose to abuse drugs, they should be sent to prison. Such people are aware of their options and make a conscious choice by continuing committing offense.