DB 4 Carminsl Justice - Essay Example

To that end, significant research is being conducted to find out ‘what works’ to end the cycle of recidivism. In recent years, various strategies have been tried. During the next ten years we must capitalize on what we have learned, and use the hard-earned tax-payer money that we are spending in ways that will be both cost-beneficial and socially responsible. (Maurer, Susan L. 2001). Crime control must be examined in relation to the community roots of social problems like poverty, unemployment, drugs, and inadequate housing.

Penal reform should be planned in relation to societal reform in areas like education, economic opportunity and racial equality. We need a new paradigm for sentencing and corrections. The continued reliance on imprisonment is costing society a tremendous amount of money, wasting lives, and doing little to prepare offenders to be successful in the community. To face these challenges, three steps should be taken: 1) Create a task-force to examine corrections. 2) Study the problems. 3) Prepare an action-oriented strategic development plan, to ensure that critical problems will be addressed.

Among the basic theories relating to criminal justice and its relation to individual rights and social control, is community justice or restorative justice. Restorative justice is future-oriented, focuses on restoration for the victim and society, and is less expensive for the taxpayer. Victims have historically been left out of the criminal justice process. Only recently have programs been started to assist victims and ensure that their voices are heard throughout the process. Also, taxpayers do not have to spend large amounts of money to punish and incarcerate non-violent offenders, who represent little risk to their communities.

Restorative justice emphasizes that they should “make right” the harm that they