Fængselsrehabilitering: USA vs. Norge

The text “Do we want prions to punish, or to Rehabilitate?” is written by Matt Terzi, a satirist and essayist from Binghamton, New York. This article is about the rehabilitation of prisoners and ex-convicts, Matt starts off his article with questioning the reader of what the reader expects to happen to prisoners. Further on he explains the statistics of the prison’s rehabilitation program in the USA and compares it to the Norwegian, Bastoy Prison island known as one of the best rehabilitation prisons in the world. He continues to explain and draw forth the statistics of the current reconviction rate in both America's 77% and Norway's 16%. He then asks if only the american government could put a bit more money into rehabilitation instead of punishment they would see a change in that 77% rate. He ends his article by stating that either you agree with rehabilitation or your pro-punishment, and that you can't be both.

Essay - 350 words

Marlon Peterson is an ex-convict and was released from prison in 2009 after 10 years of serving his prison sentence, to which after his release he helped start up youth development programs in New York city.

However, while that is impressive, today we will focus on him as a speaker and in particular his 2017 TED talk “Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform” which discusses the rehabilitation and punishment of prisoners in America. Mr. Peterson's view of the American rehabilitation system is an understandable view to have considering he has tried it firsthand; Mr. Petersons intention is to reform the rehabilitation system to be one that primarily helps prisoners and not punishes them. His experience has giving him the understanding that most people don't have of prisoners and ex-convicts, he gives a wonderful speech of how it is that general public are a lot more forgiving towards ex-convicts who have been to prison for nonviolent crimes while prisoners with a violent past don't appeal to the public as much, which seems to be a statement centered in truth.