Punishment or rehabilitation: the purpose of prisons

In the text, ´do we want prisons to punish, or to rehabilitate´, the writer Matt Terzi discusses

the debate around the purpose of prisons in the United States. He argues that currently,

prisons are designed to punish criminals rather than rehabilitate them, resulting in a high rate

of relapses. The text suggests that instead of punishing criminals, prisons should focus on

rehabilitation. This could be achieved by reducing the number of inmates and using the

excess funds to improve the lives of non-violent and non-aggressive prisoners. This could

include providing better meals, leisure time, and access to education and job training

programs. The text also suggests hiring better counselors who can work with inmates to

give them a sense of self-worth and help steer them off the course of criminal mentality. By

focusing on rehabilitation, not only will the prisoners bene?t, but society as a whole will also

bene?t, as fewer prisoners will return to a life of crime once they are released.

Essay

In "Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform," The speaker Marlon peterson

addresses the topic about how prisoners are treated in the criminal justice system. He

appeal to the listeners because the system is made to punish criminals rather than