Should our prison system be about punishment or rehabilitation?

I always believe that we should pay more punishment on the persons who commit a crime(murder, rape,heist,etc)by their intention, I don't believe these type of persons can change their nature when they return to society if we don't let them suffer enough pains. it also unfair to victim. but i also think we should give more chance the guys who commit a crime without their intention, these guys will always feel guilty for their behavior or vitims, on this occasion, prison system should be as a role of rehabilitation not punishment.

I think this is going to be a very hot topic if it isn't already in many areas. The idea of going to jail/prision is at first intended to be used as a deterrent,"If you break the law, you will be incarcerated". Then to those who do break the law and it becomes a punishment, it no longer (for many) acts as a deterrent, in a lot of cases, it becomes a "did the jail thing, wasn't great but survivable" for those some individuals that are released and they have no way of becoming part of the community so recidivisim is almost a natural course for these individuals. I think that more rehabilitation is definitely the answer for those that have committed non-violent crimes. There definitely should be a distinction between violent and non-violent offenders though. Individuals that come out of the system without any life skills will only revert to what they know. The amount of money to keep expanding and housing prisoners doesn't solve the problem, funds should go into developing programs that can address individuals being educated to be productive members of society again.

How do you solve it, our jails here are so full that to get another one in, they have to go through the list of prisoners and let one out. It does not seem to get any better. There are some that come out and never want to see the inside again, but I believe 80% of them will return back.

Also, recidivism rates would decline if community programs were implemented properly and family trees may be changed so the generational issues may be eliminated or at least diminished.

I personally think prisons should be saved for people who are serving a life sentence, or two. More money should go into community based programs to help criminals change their behavior if they are expected to return to society and live by the rules we all adhere to. I think we spend a ridiculous amount of money to house people and tell them they can't leave. Between the regular living expenses and the salaries of those watching them we could fund a gazillion community based programs with good supervision, not just probation and parole. By the way, I really liked this topic!

Punishment. The life style prisoners live is ridiculous. College, tv, weight rooms and more. The only thing they are losing is their freedom. They aren't "paying" for their crimes. That's why so many are repeat visitors. They have air conditioning and heat, food three times a day, medical and dental care - why they have way more than being out in the real world making your own way. I think that criminals should have to work 12 hours per day recycling the nations trash. We would provide protective ware and such. But they need to repay their debt and what better way than helping make the world better. Plus if they are working 12 hours a day 7 days a week they don't have time to engage in all the trouble they find inside prison. They could use rotating bunks - 12 hours in 12 hours out and be able to house twice as many prisons. This would be repaying their debt to society. This would be punishment and justice. Currently we have a criminal justice system in which the only people who get justice are the criminals.

What's all this rehabilitation crap anyway? I grew up knowing what's right and wrong, and if people aren't growing up learning right and wring (I'm not talking about religion or morality, just plain old common sense) then something is wrong with society!!! I am sick and tired of spending good tax dollars on rehabilitating someone who may well re-offend again. Jails should scare people straight, no go easy on them.

In my opinion rehabilitation should be a priority ,but only to those prisioners who are really serious about changing their bad habits.

As long as we continue to look out for number one as the primary goal of society we can never solve the problems that force so many into prisons and we will have to stand the cost of supporting more and more of the population getting no return. As of now the only return we get is the illusion of safety. If we can change our goals to care and growth for all peoples then we may be able to correct the way we are going now.

It should be depending on the degree of crimes committed if they are classified as murder or those fall under heineous crimes they should be imprison and rehabilitate only those who committed petty crimes.

First of all I am against punishment that is not the solution of the problem,every body does mistake and repent for it so I feel that a chance is to be given to the prisoners to improve and make their life better.Yes the money spent on them will be worth..

It should be about rehab but to me it seems more of just being locked up and wasting peoples time and then they get out and keep doing it. They should deffinitly be more rehab