Aren?t there any alternatives to prison?

Posted by brianaharry on February 15th, 2014

It is very easy to judge other people: they have made a mistake, they have to pay for it; they have acted against the law, they have to spend years of their life imprisoned. But in too many cases it is not so simple and punishment does not change the committed act, nor does it help the person who was proven guilty. Criminal rehabilitation is a complex process that too rarely takes place in regular prisons.

Whether you are liable to imprisonment or whether you have a friend or a family member in such a situation, you should know that, yes, there are alternatives to prison. And if you actually want to make a change, you should definitely pursue them. The main flaw of official punishment systems in the United States, as it is in most of the rest of the world, as a matter of fact, is that it relies on the idea that actions have consequences, full stop. But while there is no denial that one person’s mistake can affect not only another individual, but the entire society and that such deeds cannot be overlooked or simply forgiven, it is also true that human beings have the right to get a second chance, a real second chance, which is not given in regular institutions of incarceration, even if they officially try to implement criminal rehabilitation programs.

What people need in order to become better human beings is education, in all its forms. This is true for each and every one of us – education is and should really be a lifetime process, not only a mandatory activity during school years – and it is especially necessary for those who have done their mistakes against society. It is the lack of true education that leads to recidivism when it comes to regular prisons and jails. Incarceration is just a form of punishment for the sake of punishment, a solution society has found to protect itself from seriously violent individuals, but which fails to determine convicts to change their ways. This is a disservice to the convicted persons as well as to society. The institutions that provide alternatives to prison and efficient criminal rehabilitation programs are a much better solution if the target is reducing criminality and not mere punishment.

The goal of private institutions providing alternatives to prison is to give people the chance to show that they can be better. The official incarceration system does offer counseling and the opportunity to do community service. But a private institution focuses on such activities and gives convicts the chance to take classes, attend lectures and seminars, and participate to workshops that will help them pursue a career once they have served their sentence. Moreover, taking into account the fact that imprisonment is a life changing experience and that it can greatly affect a person’s self-esteem, as well as their trust in people and in society, convicts are supported with motivational speeches and encouraged to involve in the community life through workshops. Last, but not least, the criminal rehabilitation program does not end abruptly when the convicts gains back their freedom, but continues through online distance counseling. These are the main reasons for which you should pursue such alternatives.

Has your attorney told you about the alternatives to prison you might have? Make a difference for yourself, for your loved ones and for society and look for criminal rehabilitation programs.