1.) Purpose of Prisons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Prisons have four major purposes: retribution, incapacitation, deterrence and rehabilitation" (STOP THE ACA, 2013). The four purposes work symbiotically with each other. Retribution is a form of punishment that is achieved through withdrawing the prisoner’s freedom from society. Incapacitation prevents the criminal from committing further crimes while imprisoned so they are no longer at risk to society members. Deterrence refers to the hope that prisoners will be discouraged from committing future crimes by having their freedom withdrawn in prison. Rehabilitation is a key principle that is achieved through schemes and design strategies to help transform the prisoners into law abiding citizens in the hope they will not re-offend upon release (STOP THE ACA, 2013).

 

"The four major purposes of prisons have not been stressed equally through the years" (STOP THE ACA, 2013). This has consequently resulted in a variety of prison designs and success rates of rehabilitating prisoners.It is therefore extremely important to balance these 4 purposes in order to enable successful reintegration into society and lower the chances of reoffending.