Crime Decreasing Issue Essay, Research Paper

Society has other alternatives to decreasing crime than simply locking people in

prison. Preventative programs focus on the community, school, family, employment

and places. In addition, there are rehabilitation and restorative justice

programs that can also be used to decrease crime. Prisons are the only

alternatives we hear about from politicians because of the notion that prisons

are "tough on crime." In reality, the method that reduces crime the

most is the "toughest on crime,"–and many research studies

demonstrate prisons are not the best alternatives. Over 65% of the people

convicted for 3-Strikes are for drug-related offenses. There is great evidence

that putting many 3-Strikers in rehabilitation programs costs much less to

society overall than simply putting them in prison for 25 years or more. In

addition, there are preventative programs that can be used rather than the

prison cell. Each $1 we spend on prisons is a $1 that we could spend elsewhere

(or not be taxed in the first place). The problem with only addressing crime by

locking people in prison is that it has done nothing to alleviate the roots of

the problems that cause crime in our society. Other people are born and grow up

in the same areas where the previous offenders lived and will probably commit

the same acts because the underlying problems still exist. There is much

evidence that the gap between the wealthy and the poor is growing in the United

States. Unfortunately, the U.S.’s response to the problem has been: "The

rich get richer, and the poor get prison." To focus on street crime and

drug-related crimes can be considered a hidden way to set up concentration camps

for the poor and minorities. There is much evidence that white-collar corporate

criminals cause much more economic wealth to be illegally distributed and can

result in many more deaths and injuries than street crime (e.g., violating

safety standards in employment, emission of environmental hazards). Does society

spend as much to enforce the laws on them? Are they sent to prison for the same

sentences as the poor street criminals? Are wealthy users of drugs ending up in

our prisons? The "control" and "punishment" models adopted

by the U.S. may cause other problems. Social rebellion and deviance among the

young may increase. And, in an opposite manner, some of our youth may embrace

"control" and "punishment" as the answers to all our

problems. A growing devision among these two groups could cause extreme problems

in the future.