A path forward! for criminal justice
Since the dawn of creation and the rise of Homo sapiens, Humans used many ways to reform criminals, either by torturing them or cutting one of their body parts . But it wasn’t until the last recent centuries for prisons to be the worldwide and the major way to reform criminals. But obviously this approach is not efficient at all in doing so, since the prison systems are not effective at reducing crime rates or rehabilitating offenders, That’s why I think its use should be definitely limited, although they may somewhat serve a valuable function in certain circumstances.
It is both a complex and recondite matter to fully comprehend, But there are some grounds on which I’ve built my thesis. For example, Criminals go to prisons more than once in their lifetime, despite being imprisoned for months or even years in probably the most abysmal living condition a person might ever experience. Most of the criminals go back on the track of violence and doing the same unacceptable behaviors once they get out of prison and that shows the little impact the prisons had on their characters.
Some criminals view prisons as hotels, because the majority of criminals are from poor families and some of them are even homeless, that’s why they see it as an escape from their daily struggles, and to receive certain benefits such as access to food, shelter, and healthcare.
Sometimes, prisons can have the ability to increase the crime rate in the streets and many reasons can support this claim. Firstly, there are some prisoners who become exposed to a culture of violence and criminality. They may even be coerced into joining gangs or involving themselves in other criminal activities in order to survive while in prison. Secondly, prisoners can undergo brutalization like physical assault, sexual assault, solitary confinement among others which eventually makes them build a massive hate against people and society. Thirdly, quite a number of prisoners lack access to education as well as training programs that would enable them fit back into the society after they have been released from prison cells.
Understanding Why People Commit Crimes
While it may not be realistic to abolish prisons altogether, But it is crystal clear that current systems are not meeting the needs of either offenders or society as a whole. A more nuanced and thoughtful approach to criminal justice is needed, one that prioritizes rehabilitation and reintegration over punishment and retribution.
One of the most important questions asked by law enforcement officials after a crime is committed is “What was the motive?”. The answer can sometimes provides a glimpse into the criminal’s psyche, not to mention that an increase in crime in an area can be due to many factors like poverty, mental illness, families with single parents, racism, drug issues and more; Most importantly is the psychological impact of a certain incident that a person might encounter in his life, which can play a pivotal role in the process of making a future criminal.
Sam Harris and the Absence of Free Will in Criminal Justice
Sam Harris is one of my favorite scientists today and probably my favorite person to listen to on any topic, He’s a neuroscientist who argues that free will is an illusion. Because he thinks that our thoughts and actions are the result of prior causes and conditions, such as genetics, upbringing, and environment. Therefore, our thoughts and actions are predetermined by factors beyond our control.
This view of free will has an important implications for morality and the justice system, as it challenges traditional ideas of personal responsibility and punishment. Instead of blaming individuals for their actions.
Guilty, but not responsible?
Whether the criminal is responsible for the crimes he committed or no, I think we should think more about about changing the conditions that give rise to problematic behavior, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of access to education and healthcare.
