[Task 2] Prison - Agree or Disagree

Many people consider imprisonment as an ineffective way to reduce the crime rate in our society. As far as I am concerned, there are several benefits of putting criminals in jail, but there are some drawbacks that should not be overlooked.

On the one hand, custodial sentences should be used on felonies, since many of these people have behavioral or mental problems that make them too dangerous to live in a normal society. By locking them away in jails, the authority can ensure that they can not affect the health and safety of other citizens. In addition, as our justice system believes that offenders may have committed crime out of desperation, they need a lot of help in order to become productive civilians again after they are released. As a result, prisons usually have courses that teach inmates practical skills such as sewing or mechanics, which allow them to find jobs afterwards.

On the other hand, people who are against prisons think these places are costing too much of tax-payers’ money, without creating any values for the economy. Instead of spending money on incarceration and maintaining prisons, the government should allocate more budgets to the improvement of hospitals and schools in rural areas. If the quality of education and health-care in these places are better, there will be fewer reasons for people to find these services in large cities, causing overload. Furthermore, a criminal record makes it extremely difficult for ex-criminals to find employments due to the prejudice that others have towards them. Without proper rehabilitation programs and the necessary support from society, they may relapse into their own criminal path.

In conclusion, there are valid reasons why prisons should or should not exist as a means of curbing crime. However, when a more effective method is not yet developed, imprisonment will still be the most feasible option.

(308 words)