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American Correctional System
cally, is it worth having should be punished for son that they are in the

the programs in the hopes their wrongdoings and put predicament they are in
that recidivism will be re- to justice (Jones, 2014, p. and possibly facing jail or

duced, or is it just a waste 24). With that being said, prison. Just because some-
of time? It is not clear to alternative sentencing one does not get a sen-
whether or not that there programs are unknown tence in jail or prison does

are advantages to alterna- to actually work, but the not mean that the offender
tive sentencing rather than only way to find out is got away with what he/

to incarcerate an offender by continuously imple- she did, all this means is
(Jones, 2014, p. 21). Coo- menting them. If alterna- that alternative programs
per Jones, writer of Does tive sentencing programs where recommended for

Alternative Sentencing work as publicized, then the offender and now he/
Reduce Recidivism, stated it would clearly be the she can give back to the

that people have argued most beneficial method community by providing
incarceration is necessary and consequently should certain services that repair
because it is a form of be used more frequently harms suffered by any

revenge, “which essen- by the courts. If the end victim. Correctional staff,
tially is about evening the state is to reduce over- community leaders, and

score” (Jones, 2014, p. 7). crowding in institutions communities must work
Others argue that there and rehabilitate offenders, cohesively to ensure that
is no way to successfully then we need to show of- the prior to releasing of-

reduce recidivism or fix fenders a different path of fenders back in to society,
offenders views (Jones, “righteousness” in order to that they have a sense of

2014, p. 24), which I reduce recidivism (Jones, hope and direction that
translate as, you cannot 2014, p. 25). will prevent them from
change someone’s views returning.

when they have been set Conclusion
to see life a certain way One of the main things

for so long. Although it is Alternative sentencing that I believe needs to be
possible that many offend- programs all have their focused on and improved
ers are at the stage where place in the correctional is rehabilitation. Without

they cannot be changed and court segments. The having a reliable and well-
and rehabilitated, at that main purpose is to teach structured rehabilitation

point, there should be offenders that the wrong- system, offenders cannot
no effort to fix their be- ful decisions they have be expected to exit jails or
havior, instead criminals made in life are the rea- prison and immediately

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