The Role of Education and Rehabilitation in the Modern Prison System

398 Words2 Pages
The primary function of prison is a widely debated issue. While it is commonly argued that jail is first and foremost a place of punishment, it also plays an important role as an institution for rehabilitation and criminal reform. This essay will argue that education and rehabilitation, rather than punishment, should be seen as the primary role of the modern prison system. It will demonstrate that punishment alone has not been successful in eliminating criminal behaviour and that education may be the most effective means of reducing recidivism. A prison system which is, first and foremost, a place of punishment cannot be relied on to eliminate criminal behaviour. Similar to other behaviour, criminal behaviour can be influenced by environment. A conventional prison system seems to be a dubious way of transforming prisoners’ criminal intentions. To be precise in prisons, culprits share their crime experiences rather than regret their faults. However, people might think that punishment in prison can have a deterrent effect on criminals. But Giles (2004) notes that 77% of prisoners released back into society in the USA are likely to reconvict. This high rate of recidivism proves that the conventional prison system is not effective enough to eradicate criminal behaviour. In contrast, the fostering of essential life skills may be the most effective means by which the prison system can work to reduce criminal tendencies. New life skills could be delivered by education and training process. Head (1997) comments on the aims of educating and training prisoners that “education has a higher purpose” describing the vital role it could play in transforming lives (Head, 1997 p. 134). By giving educational opportunities to the prisoners, they would find it as a new way to transform their lives. Keeping them busy with experiencing self-development tasks would keep them away from
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