Why Prisons Are Better Than Custodial Sentences

I do not agree with this statement, as long sentences will not stop criminal behavior, as they will delay the chance of the offender reoffending after their jail sentence, depending on how long is their sentence. Despite several reports that longer, and tougher sentences will stop criminal behavior and reduce crime, as criminals are less likely to reoffend after their prison sentence, and fewer crimes are likely to be committed, prison sentences don’t reduce reoffending, especially for criminal who are more likely to reoffend a lot, especially those with problems dealing with drug or alcohol problems.

The length of custodial sentences have been increasing significantly over the past decade, with no link to a reduction of reoffending. Community sentences are more useful in reducing re-offenses by offenders, and they are good in solving drug and alcohol problems faced by offenders, as community sentences need people to find a solution to the damage created and done as a result of their crimes; and they cost cheaper, compared to shorter prison sentences. (McDowell, 2012) A prison sentence for six weeks, or 42 days, in the UK was £4,500, while a prison sentence for 12 months, or a year, in the UK costs more than £40,000 for offences like burglary and theft, as compared …show more content…
There are some better ways and examples of reducing criminal behaviour and also reducing the prison population. In the Netherlands, there are shorter prison sentences for criminals, which includes a sentence of six years for burglary, compared to the UK, which sentences criminals for burglary for 14 years. Also, treatment and counselling for offenders is allowed for all offenders. In my opinion, people should not depend on locking up prisoners with longer sentences to deter criminal behaviour, because people should think about how to use prisons properly for the correct reasons in deterring criminal