Punishment for a crime is a logical consequence of wrongful deeds, which is applied in all countries of the world. However, the reasons for punishment and its forms are different depending on the situation, the severity of the crime, and the judge’s view of its circumstances, and the possibility of the criminal’s rehabilitation. I believe that for different types of crime, various reasons and purposes of punishment are most suitable, but one of the most effective reasons is a need for rehabilitation.
The main reasons and purposes for punishing crimes in the United States are the need to isolate an offender from society, correct his or her behavior and prevent new crimes, and repay the victim’s losses. These reasons depend on the severity of the crime and its type, as well as the attitude of the accused person to his or her act (Clear, 2012). For example, some people can sincerely repent of their actions or even be accidentally involved in criminal activity, while others can express disrespect for the court and be proud of their deeds. Therefore, different reasons and forms of punishment must be applied to such criminals.
The need to isolate the offender is one of the main reasons for punishment, such as imprisonment or the death penalty, and aims to prevent the dangerous criminal from harming society. For example, serial killers or terrorists have little chance of rehabilitation, and the harm they have done to society cannot be covered by less severe punishment. The advantage of this approach is that people are safer without criminals; however, its significant disadvantage is the possibility of punishing an innocent person and ruining his or her life.
The second reason and purpose of punishment is the need to rehabilitate the offender and enable him or her to become a responsible member of society. Rehabilitation programs, instead of imprisonment, are most often available to juvenile offenders and adults who have committed less harmful crimes, such as drug dealing or carjacking. The advantage of this approach is that it allows people who made a mistake to improve, get an education or a job, and start a family without the perpetrator’s stigma. However, its disadvantage is that the US judicial system does not have effective rehabilitation methods, and a significant part of people commit crimes again.
The third reason is financial compensation for damage to victims of crime. Numerous situations, from property damage to medical error, fall into this category. The advantage of this reason is that the victims of crime or their families receive funds that cover the costs caused by the crime, as well as moral damage. However, its disadvantage is that in many cases, the offender cannot pay for the damage, and his or her family can also suffer from these actions.
The need for rehabilitation and crime prevention is one of the most convincing reasons for punishment. This approach gives people a second chance to become useful members of society and allows the state to save money on prisoners’ maintenance or the death penalty. In addition, often even people who have committed a serious crime, such as murder, have a chance for a new life if difficult circumstances provoked their actions. Consequently, this reason and method of punishment are the most conducive to the state and society, although it cannot be universal in cases of some serious crimes.
In conclusion, there are several reasons for punishing criminals in the United States, each of which has its consequences and forms. The most effective reason is rehabilitation and the prevention of crimes since most people deserve a second chance. However, the reason for the isolation of criminals from society is also logical and rational, since in some cases, only keeping a person within the walls of a prison or psychiatric institution can prevent his or her crimes. Financial compensation for damage is also necessary as the offender’s community service cannot compensate victims of an accident or arson. Consequently, although the need for rehabilitation is most effective, it has drawbacks and cannot be universal for all crimes.
Reference
Clear, T. R., Reisig, M. D., & Cole, G. F. (2018). American corrections. Cengage.