Discussion Board 3

In the last few years, the utilization of different alternative and innovative strategies rather than incarceration has been encouraged within the United States and globally as a means of lowering the congestion level in prisons (Bergman and Berman, 2018). Thus, the utilization of such methods is essential in steadying the prison populace while eliminating the associated issues. Criminal sentencing is usually aimed are assisting in the provision of rehabilitation and punishment of the offenders in the request of discouraging the participation of individuals in crime. However, based on the recent trends which have in turn highlighted the existing issues within the setting it is evident that the facilities are mainly focused on punishing rather than rehabilitation in order to transform the individuals while changing their behaviors. This is the rationale behind the development of the alternative options which have been encouraged as a means of ensuring that rehabilitation is achieved (Bergman and Berman, 2018). Some alternative sentencing strategies incorporate drugs rehabilitation, house arrest. Probation, and fines.

All these sentencing options are characterized by some practical outcomes such as decreasing the prisons populace, cost saving and increased effectiveness within the justice system. It cannot be denied that the sentencing principles were mainly created within the Criminal Justice System in the quest of creating and sustaining order. In this order, the primary goal is rehabilitation unless for certain offenses where the offenders can only be sentenced for life. Rehabilitation is essential because it not only helps in the restoration of an individual but helps in sustaining order within the society by creating some form of therapy to the society as a whole. The alternative options are fundamental in lowering the rate of discrimination as well as ensuring behavioral change because their major objective is to create transformation rather than focusing on punishments. The government is saving many resources by choosing the options and eliminating the issues of trauma within the society and illnesses that result due to congestion in the poorly equipped facilities.

Religion has been widely acknowledged for its persistent condemning of evil acts and thus encourages punishment and rehabilitation of those involved in offenses (McFarlane, 2010). According to Judeo Christian viewpoint, the Bible illustrates the different evils committed by individuals and offers some options through which individuals can be discouraged to take part. This religion asserts that God is not usually happy when individuals focus on doing evil things. It is thus asserted that crimes which are evil are involved in making an individual impure (Lipskar, 1996). The American is mainly assumed to be highly connected with the Judeo-Christian religion which although it discourages immorality it does not promote incarceration and is, therefore, more focused on the opting of differentiated strategies for dealing with punishment as well as discouraging individuals from committing crimes (McFarlane, 2010). The religion mainly asserts that even in the biblical era it is evident that even those that were involved in offenses were never incarcerated and most of them were sent to the refuge places in order to change their behaviors in general (Lipskar, 1996).

In summing up, CRS punishments are supposed to create positive implications that benefit all the involved parties and the society in general.  In this context, it becomes evident that imprisonment never serves the intended responsibilities and it does not, therefore, offer any benefits to the affected persons. Incarceration is also costly for the government while it emotional destroys the families of those involved which creates recidivism due to bitterness. In this context, the innovative and alternative approaches are the best ways of solving the existing issues ranging from cost to high crime level.

 

References

Bergman, P. and Berman S. (2018). Sentencing Alternatives: Prison, Probation, Fines, and Community Service. Retrieved from https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/sentencing-alternatives-prison-probation-fines-30294.html

McFarlane, A. (2010). Can community sentences replace jail? BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-10725163

Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar. (1996). A Torah Perspective on Incarceration as a Modality of Punishment and Rehabilitation. Retrieved from https://www.jlaw.com/Articles/PrisonerRights.html