The rationale of a reduction in incarceration in the United States - Essay Example

Why incarceration should be reduced in America Why incarceration should be reduced in America Although the aim of incarcerating people is to reduce the number of offenders who cause mayhem in the society and also to transform them, this is not always the case. Instead, when people get out of the prison, they become even worse as large percentage of them are rearrested in same crime in duration of less than two years. What the incarceration does is to weaken the bonds that bind people to the society and its norm (Wright, 2008).

The most important reason why incarceration should be reduced is because it takes well able men from the society who were engaged in productive activities to earn a living. Some of these men and women have families who depended on them and once they are put in jails, it means that their source of income have been lost (Arditti, 2012). Such a move leaves that family in poverty as they can no longer cater for their basic needs. In order to make the ends meet, such a family may turn to crime as the only alternative.

In this way, incarceration end up creating more problems rather than providing a solution.Reducing incarceration should not be based on the manner of health. This is because, if prisoners can be well checked in matters pertain to their health, both mental and physical illness cannot be witnessed in prisons. Law enforces must also put into consideration the way offenders have been brought up by their parents before determining the incarceration period. Some parents neglect their children forcing them to turn to crime.

Therefore, such children need to be considered and their term be reduced. In addition, there is also a need for counseling of such offenders. References:Wright, M. & Stern, V. (2008). Making good prison: Prisons punishment and beyond: England: Waterside Press.Arditti, J. (2012). Parental incarceration and the family. New York, New York University Press.