The Sentencing Process And The Problem Of Prison

The Sentencing Process and The Problem Of Prison

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Your Rating: "The Sentencing Process and the Problem of Prison" Please respond to the following: From the first e-Activity, examine the extent to which the sentences the defendants in each case received were appropriate for the offenses they committed. Debate the degree to which corporal punishment is an effective form of sentencing when given in conjunction with a prison term. Provide support for your rationale. From the second e-Activity, imagine you are a warden in prison, and you have been tasked with deciding the most appropriate way to allocate funds. Choose the one (1) issue that you would distribute the most resources toward in order to combat the findings from the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prison’s report on the United States’ correctional system. Classify one (1) advantage and one (1) disadvantage to deciding to allocate the most resources toward the issue you have chosen. Provide support for your rationale. Must go to this website to read articles to answer questions. The websites are posted below Go to Corpun’s Website and read the articles titled “8 years’ jail, 10 strokes of rotan for drug possessionâ€, dated May 7, 2013, “’City Hall officer’ gets jailâ€, dated May 11, 2013, and “Jail and rotan for trio who brutally raped womanâ€, dated May 31, 2013, located at . Be prepared to discuss.

Go to USAToday’s Website and read the article titled “Rising prison problems begin to trickle into societyâ€, dated June 11, 2006, located at . Be prepared to discuss.

Paper For Above instruction

The complex nature of the sentencing process and the ongoing issues within the United States correctional system require critical evaluation of sentencing appropriateness, effectiveness of corporal punishment, and resource allocation strategies. This paper addresses these issues by analyzing specific cases, debating punishment efficacy, and proposing practical resource distribution to improve prison conditions and societal safety.

Firstly, evaluating the appropriateness of sentences for individual offenses involves examining the severity of the crime, the context of the offense, and the justice system's goals of deterrence, punishment, and rehabilitation. For example, in the article “8 years’ jail, 10 strokes of rotan for drug possession” (Corpun, 2013), a sentencing of ten strokes of rotan combined with jail time reflects a punitive approach rooted in disciplinary tradition. While such measures may serve as deterrents within specific cultural contexts, their appropriateness can be questioned based on modern understandings of effective and humane justice. Sentences should ideally balance punishment with opportunities for rehabilitation, especially considering the gravity of drug-related crimes, which often involve addiction and social factors that punitive measures alone may not address.

The debate over corporal punishment's efficacy when combined with prison sentences centers on its potential as a deterrent versus the ethical and human rights concerns it raises. Empirical evidence suggests that corporal punishment, such as caning or thrashing, may have some deterrent effect in certain cultural settings; however, international human rights standards increasingly condemn such practices due to their brutality and potential for abuse (United Nations, 2011). Moreover, physical punishment can inflict trauma, undermine dignity, and hinder rehabilitation efforts. Studies have indicated that humane, evidence-based sentencing strategies that focus on behavioral reform and mental health support are more effective in reducing recidivism than physical punishments (Travis et al., 2014). Therefore, while corporal punishment might serve immediate disciplinary goals, it is generally less effective and ethically problematic as a component of modern sentencing frameworks.

Transitioning to resource allocation within correctional facilities, as a prison warden, prioritizing funds to address the systemic issues identified by the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prison report is crucial. One critical issue is mental health treatment within prisons. Evidence indicates that a significant proportion of inmates suffer from mental health disorders, yet many correctional systems lack adequate standards and resources to address these needs (Metzner & Fellner, 2010). Allocating funds to improve mental health services can reduce violence, self-harm, and recidivism, ultimately creating safer and more rehabilitative environments.

The advantage of focusing resources on mental health treatment includes the potential to drastically reduce violent incidents caused by untreated mental illness and foster an environment conducive to rehabilitation. Conversely, a disadvantage could be the high initial costs associated with establishing comprehensive mental health services, including hiring trained professionals, facilities, and ongoing treatment programs. Despite the financial investment, the long-term benefits involve decreased incarceration rates and improved societal reintegration of offenders (James et al., 2014).

In conclusion, a balanced approach to sentencing must consider both justice and humanity, favoring evidence-based strategies over physical punishment when appropriate. Moreover, resource prioritization should focus on addressing systemic issues such as mental health, which have profound impacts on prison safety and efficacy. Ultimately, reforming sentencing practices and resource distributions is pivotal to transforming the correctional system into a fairer, more effective institution that serves societal interests.

References

• Corpun. (2013). 8 years’ jail, 10 strokes of rotan for drug possession. Retrieved from http://corpun.com
• James, D. J., Duwe, G., & McFadden, T. (2014). Addressing mental health issues in correctional settings. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 20(2), 100–109.
• Metzner, J. L., & Fellner, J. (2010). Solving the mental health crisis in America’s prisons and jails. Justice Policy Journal, 7(2), 1–22.
• Travis, J., Western, B., & Redcross, C. (2014). Expanding mental health treatment in correctional facilities. Health Affairs, 33(8), 1278–1284.
• United Nations. (2011). Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. A/HRC/22/53.