Introduction
The overpopulation of US prisons and jails consistently put pressure on the correction department's need to espouse alternative sanctions, which are primarily attained through community-based correction mechanisms, including probation and parole. Currently, the number of convicts under parole and probation exceeds those in prisons by far (Kaeble & Cowhig, 2016). 2016 reports on the correctional population indicate that about 6.6 million Americans are being supervised by the US adult correctional system (Kaeble & Cowhig, 2016). Out of this population, over 4.5 million are under community supervision, leaving about 2.1 million Americans incarcerated (Kaeble & Cowhig, 2016). Assessing the advantages and disadvantages of incarceration and alternative sanctions is critical in determining the appropriate punishment or rehabilitation mechanism to limit recidivism and new offense violation.
Pros and Cons of Incarceration
Incarceration is the primary form of punishment of rehabilitation in the US for the commission of an offense. It includes putting the offenders and convicts in jails and prisons for a predetermined period. Incarceration has various advantages. First, it protects society by keeping it safe from violent and treacherous criminals while offering retribution through which justice is served. About one in three adult Americans under correctional supervision are either in jail or prison (Kaeble & Cowhig, 2016). Secondly, it minimizes cases of new offense violations as convicts are locked away. Finally, it fosters the vindication of law and paves the way for rehabilitation.
Incarceration also has its limitations. First, it is expensive, calling for federal and state governments to commit more funds. Additionally, the recidivism rate is high since prisoners are likely to learn crime from their fellow inmates and develop resentment. A report by the US Department of Justice showed that about five in six prisoners released in 2005 were under criminal investigation at least once within nine years after release (Alper et al., 2018). Finally, Prisons are always crowded, exposing offenders to the risk of developing serious health conditions.
Pros and Cons of Alternative Sanctions
Alternative sanctions, commonly known as community correction, aim to reduce the crowding and cost of incarceration and foster restorative justice through consistent surveillance, rehabilitation, and community reintegration. Whether achieved through probation or parole, community correction uses court-ordered sanctions to ensure that offenders serve at least part of their sentence within the community. 81% of offenders in the US, serving their sentences through community corrections are under probation, while only 29% are under parole (Kaeble, 2016). Community correction has various distinct advantages. First, it helps subsidize the cost of punishment or rehabilitation since offenders live at home and are consistently supervised to ensure that they live within the limits of their sanctions. Second, it limits jail and prison crowding and allows the offenders to be more involved in rehabilitative programs since they have conditional freedom.
Despite its advantages, community corrections exhibit high failure rates leading to high rates of revocation hearings, revocation, and re-incarceration. Nonetheless, the rates of existing parole and probations exceed that of entries, with over half the existence being due to successful rehabilitative measures (Kaeble, 2016). Further, the rate of absconding is high in community correction due to partial freedom. Finally, it might compromise public safety.
Conclusion
Both the punishment or rehabilitation mechanisms have their pros and cons that can either foster or discourage their adoption. The advantages and disadvantages do not indicate that one mechanism is better than the other. Instead, effective integration of the two is essential in ensuring that offenders are punished and successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated into the community.
