does prison work

Question 1

evidence for prison working

Answer 1

-right realists = prisons are key way of deterring ppl from offending by increasing the costs of the crime
-in the past 100years , number of offenders in orsiojmim england and wales has quadrupled

-prisons helps to keep members of the public safe and is the only way of protecting people from serial criminals such as levi bellfield

-fear of prison would deter some people from committing crimes , this may only be those w a lot to lose (hirschi - social bonds)

Question 2

evidence against

Answer 2

• more than half of ex prisoners will commit a further crime within one year of release
• punishment doesn’t always lead to people following the law e.g many people continue to breach laws

-ministry of justice - 47.5% in 2010 re offended in a year
-BOOMAN AND HOPKINS= 54% 2012 committed an offence within 1 yr

-prisons may make pre existing issues worse e.g de stabilise families , dispute employment opportunities

-drug abuse and violence
-GOEFTMAN= prisons hv their own subculture(becomes training ground for criminals)
-BECKER = “master status “ makes hard for released prisoners to re enter mainstream society , increase chances of re offending as legitimate opportunities are blocked

-mental health, suicidal, isolation , lack emotional support may lead to MH issues.