More and more prisons are being built to house the world’s criminals, and many people believe long-term imprisonment is the answer to solving the crime problem. However, others feel that psychological assistance is what is required. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (Discuss both views.)

Those in favour of long-term imprisonment

argue

Suggestion

arguing

that criminals are not fit to live alongside normal members of

society

. The obvious reason for

this

is that they represent a danger to others’ personal safety, and it is true that

society

would not tolerate violent criminals living in its midst. The thinking behind imprisonment is to take away prisoners’ rights to individual freedom:

this

is their punishment.

In addition

, it is thought that prisoners use their time in

prison

to reflect on and consider their illegal behaviour, hopefully regretting and feeling remorseful about their crimes.

However

, some people argue that prisons are not the best place for all criminals. Advocates for psychological rehabilitation believe that psychological therapy may be a better alternative to imprisonment for some offenders. Psychological therapy may address the root causes of the criminal behaviour and offer strategies and possibilities for change in the future.

This

approach may be more successful in preventing

reoffending

in the long run because it does not assume the same solution (

that is

,

prison

) works for all. On the whole, I believe

prison

definitely has its place as a form of punishment, as no one would wish to live in fear of violent crime, and criminals need to be removed from

society

for

this

reason.

However

, I think a combined approach which has a strong focus on psychological treatment is essential in addressing the core causes of crime, as

prison

alone offers no hope for future change and eventually, almost all criminals are released back into

society

.