Corrections and Incapacitation Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

The correctional and prison system of the US is a hot topic for discussion in modern times. Being one of the most common topics for political manipulation and populist claims, the criminal justice system has become heavily ineffective. According to Harvard Political Review, the US has a shocking 76.6% of prisoners who returned to prison within five years (Benecchi, 2021). This essay aims to show the alternative way of dealing with the correctional system proposed by Brandon Matthews. This concept requires the split between two different tracks of punishment and rehabilitation with the goal of breaking the false link between these two processes.

The true nature of the modern American prison system is that it takes its roots in the tradition of punishment. From the ancient Code of Hammurabi to the harsh ways of the death penalty in the 19th century, there was an evolution of practice that the response to violations of law should be strict (TEDx Talks, 2017). As a result, the idea of punishment has become the core aspect of the US correctional system (Carter, n.d.). Brandon Matthews argues that to change the existing state of affairs, there is a need to draw the line between punishment and rehabilitation (TEDx Talks, 2017). In a true sense, punishment requiring a “strict prison environment” should be directed towards criminals who committed serious crimes and used high levels of violence (TEDx Talks, 2017, 5:30). In contrast, people responsible for non-violent crimes should follow the rehabilitation track (TEDx Talks, 2017). Notably, only with the break from the punishment nature of modern prisons can it be effective.

However, such prison philosophy can cause criticism and opposition from the relatively high proportion of people, especially those who work in the correctional system. Brandon Matthews told the story when he spoke with a correctional staff member about the practice of rehabilitation, she responded that “they [prisoners] are inmates, not patients” (TEDx Talks, 2017, 9:59). It is evident that combining punishment and rehabilitation in one place does not work correctly. The work with inmates of serious misconduct requires a distinctive type of morality, while the practice in rehabilitation centers demands less strict relationships. In reality, prisoners are true patients whose criminality should be cured before they reenter the communities.

In my opinion, the model described by Brandon Matthews is truly legitimate and effective. There is no reason to punish inmates who committed nonviolent crimes with prisons’ strict and demoralizing atmosphere. The primary concern is how this reform will go through the legislature. Evidently, this reform will face the criticism of conservative politicians, who are biased toward any kind of offenders. What is more, the negative attitude toward any prisoners among Americans is also widespread. For example, it is clearly seen how Internet users severely criticize the prison conditions of Anders Breivik, the cruel terrorist who killed 77 people. He has relatively comfortable living conditions in a Norwegian prison, the quality of which may be better than someone’s in the US. Thus, there is a need to change some people’s perceptions about the prisoners and publicly insist on the high value of the rehabilitation process.

To sum up, professionals should address an apparent problem of the ineffectiveness of the modern American prison system. The high recidivism rate bothers all Americans, so new and new ideas about the radical reforms mushroom. Brandon Matthews presented the model of drawing the definite line between punishment and rehabilitation. These two ways of the correctional system’s operation should be independent. By distinguishing rehabilitation, the professionals will have the ability to change prisoners’ morality and prepare them for everyday life after the release from prison.

References

Benecchi, L. (2021). Recidivism imprisons American progress. Harvard Political Review. Web.

Carter, D. (n.d.). Incapacitation. Open Oregon Educational Resources. Web.

TEDx Talks. (2017). [Video]. YouTube. Web.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, December 25). Corrections and Incapacitation. https://ivypanda.com/essays/corrections-and-incapacitation/

Work Cited

"Corrections and Incapacitation." IvyPanda, 25 Dec. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/corrections-and-incapacitation/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Corrections and Incapacitation'. 25 December.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Corrections and Incapacitation." December 25, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/corrections-and-incapacitation/.

1. IvyPanda. "Corrections and Incapacitation." December 25, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/corrections-and-incapacitation/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Corrections and Incapacitation." December 25, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/corrections-and-incapacitation/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1