Page 18 - Issue-65
P. 18
Vol 1 - issue 65 ELITE
Hana S.Elbadry-Second Level-
Economics
Behind Bars - On the Effectiveness of Prisons
Picture this: What is punishment, really?
On the outskirts of town, just behind It is our only weapon with which we
the tree line stood a dark dingy building. maintain a sense of authority, utilizing
The building was dirty - its doors it to reform others’ behavior and to
covered in moss and mud, and it reeked abandon it, is to leave us empty
of iron as your car passed past it. Still, handed. For many of us, prisons are
its sight fills you with comfort - you are just one way to give criminals their
grateful for a government that is “just deserts” - those who commit
powerful enough to protect you from crime deserve to be punished.
the violent transgressors hiding behind In contemporary civilization, prisons
those molding walls. serve the purpose of both criminal
You look at your child whispering that punishment and reform and have four
if they continue being naughty then main justifications: incapacitation,
they'll surely be punished and end up in retribution, deterrence, and
prison. rehabilitation. It then follows that if a
carceral system were to check off all 4
aims of imprisonment, then it can be
concluded that prison is an acceptable
form of punishment in response to an
offense.
Sept. 2024, p.18
