Comments on: Does prison rehabilitate criminals?

By: stephen treanor

stephen treanor — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:36:02 +0000

I have been a persistant offender from the age of god knows what in and out of trouble with all sorts of authorities, ( police, schools etc etc ) and I strongly believe that my disfunctional childhood has had a massive part of how I responded and reacted in and around society, I spent a very short time in prison and learned very little on how to change myself and become a part of society, what I did learn was how to become involved in other crimes that I hadnt done before, after losing everthing most valuable to me in my life by running on complete self will I realised that I really needed help, police cells and prison doors were and are not enough to help me balance myself emotionally so I checked myself into a rahabilatation centre for treatment to my addictions and to adress me + my behaviours, simply locking people up does not work, there needs to be a programme for offenders the same as there needs to be a willingness to change from the offenders themselves, I also strongly believe that the government needs to make a change in how the authorities can intervene when abuse is suspected in family homes, from my experiance a large percentage of people in addiction, prisons + criminality come from very abbusive homes and this needs to be adressed in a very serious fashion, why keep abusing and punishing people who have had this all of their lives if they are prepared to try and change their lives, in my own personal oppinion if the government could make a change in the way the system has been running Im sure you will see a change in the offenders ( ex )

By: Hayley Barber

Hayley Barber — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:49:39 +0000

My brother abused me for a number of years and in a number of ways. Despite a time on remand and time on probation for abusing another girl, he still treats me with contempt. Probation officers and prison officers can only do so much, the offender has to put in some effort as well.

By: cheryl nicholson

cheryl nicholson — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:24:47 +0000

I dont think prison is the answer for most. I agree with your view that these people have been punished all their lives. I as a mum think smacking a child teaches them to smack and it goes on. I do think these people need love caring and kindness. But i think more money and time need to be put in to these people. But my biggest concern is the root of the problem and we can help the up and coming members of these gangs. Shit you can see the potential gang members now at the age of four and i could name you a few. The primary carers (parents) i believe are a massive factor in alot of these cases. Being a parent isnt easy and you are learning all the time. But i strongly believe that some parents, carers need a bit of training counselling and support. The parents that are drinking taking drugs need help. They cannot function their own lives in a “norm” way how do we excpect their children to grow up whole and grounded adults, they cant. So then who’s problem is it. Social workers?? Think they need to be more feisty, political correctness is holding everyone back should we shouldnt we. This is a subject close to my heart and needs to be handled without kid gloves. This might not solve the problems on the streets now but in years to come it will, when it will probarbly be much worse.

By: Shauvaughan

Shauvaughan — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:50:52 +0000

If your people suffer from being ill educated and their manner corrupted from infancy, then punish them for those crimes to which their first education delt them, then what else is to be concluded but that you first make thieves and then incarcerate them?

By: alex

alex — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:44:44 +0000

not really.
especially when we are taking about the youth of today.being a youth myself i know alot of young men who have come across the justice system in their lives,but do not have a care in the world if they go to prison,simply because prison is “minor” meaning,they do not fear prison.prisons have become more a place of luxury than punishment.prisoners seem to have more rights than many law obiding citizens and it seems that victims friends and families suffer more than the actual offender.

for example,murderers on average get around 12 years,how can 12 years in a prison where you are allowed tvs,gyms,pool tables,dvds,social interaction,jobs and workshops,be any form of justice for victims families and friends.if life really did mean lifei think there would be a rapid decline in youth murders.

prisons should be tough,especially for murerersrapists and peadophiles.minor crimes should be punished by community service or national service!
the prison service in this country is an actual joke to be honest.we might aswell just let them all out and be done with it for all the good prisons are doing

By: Elaine

Elaine — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:48:59 +0000

Prisons can rehabilitate if education and self discovery are placed at the heart of the programme. Many people sent to prison have no idea of who they are, what they want, where they are heading and any idea of their purpose. They feel no sense of value as human beings because very little in their childhood affirmed or reinforced whom they wished to be. Most important, many lack the basic confidence to believe in their potential and to lift themselves from the rut they might be in on to something more enhancing. Hence a cycle of deviant action to either hurt themselves or society.

Very few people should be sent to prison. Having them doing community work, developing that person’s self esteem, affirming and helping them to realise their own value and worth would do far more to rehabilitate them than continuing incarceration.