You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Some people believe that giving longer prison sentences is the best way to reduce crime. Others believe that there are better ways to reduce crime. Discuss both views and give your opinion. You should write at least 254 words.

Increasing
crime
rates
have been a longstanding cause of worry across multiple nations. In response to
this
endless state of concern, the public stands divided in their opinions on reducing
crime
rates
.
While
some advocate longer prison sentences, others contend that there are better alternatives for curtailing crimes. I personally agree with the latter view and
this
essay aims to explore both the aforementioned viewpoints, ultimately showcasing my reasons for siding with the second one more strongly.
Firstly
, there are justified reasons for suggesting a prolonged sentence in
jail
for criminals. The rationale that tops the list is that life in
jail
is full of strictures, drudgery, and pitiless punishments. Proponents of the extended imprisonment strategy believe that criminals subjected to these harsh conditions would naturally reform themselves out of fear of having to live through
such
an experience again.
However
, I disagree with
such
a standpoint because being mercilessly punished in incarceration doesn't necessarily fully transform the criminal mentality of the offender. At most, it may pent up more frustration and anger, causing the individual to become more aggressive in society when released from prison. To cite an example, many TV shows featuring real-life events portray villains coming out of
jail
with a stronger vengeful urge, following which they go on to commit more heinous acts. In fact, many countries have strict imprisonment laws for sex offenders despite which the sexual
crime
rates
have witnessed an incremental trend.
On the other hand
, a good proportion of the population has started pointing out alternatives to jailing lawbreakers and deem those as better ways of curbing crimes. One of the most popular suggestions is the introduction of a rehabilitation system, where a culprit is made to serve a shorter time in
jail
post which they are made to engage in social activities for a designated period of time. Another proposal is that the Government itself should ensure a satisfactory standard of living in a nation to prevent anyone from resorting to
crime
out of compulsion. I highly agree with these strategies as they go a long way in restructuring a criminal's social conduct, mindset and awareness, making them more responsible towards the community. Many countries have been exemplary in accepting
such
methods too.
For instance
, Singapore has been cited in numerous newspapers and youtube vlogs as one of the safest countries in the world, the low
crime
rates
are attributed to the fulfilling quality of life the Government has ensured for the country's residents.
Additionally
, many police officers in the United Kingdom have begun supporting the idea of a social reform system being incorporated within the judicial sentences for criminals.
This
has
also
proven to reduce
crime
rates
effectively. In conclusion,
although
there is a prevailing debate about the optimum way of triggering a decline in
crime
rates
globally, I personally advocate the view that there are better and other ways to achieve that aim
in contrast
to extending an offender's time behind the bars.
Submitted by sudipa.mishra on

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Word Count

IELTS says that you should write a minimum of 250 words in writing task 2. If you go under word count you will lose marks in task response.

A very long essay will not give you a higher band score.

Aim for between 260 to 290 words in writing task 2. This will ensure a concise essay and will be realistic in terms of time management. You have only 40 minutes to write the essay and you need around 10 minutes of planning time, so you will not be able to write a long essay in 30 minutes.

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