In the United States, misdemeanor jail time ought to be replaced with significant rehabilitation.

First Good Luck to my opponent. Second Thanks to my judges. Third - yea there isn't a third... I affirm - Resolved: In the United States, misdemeanor jail time ought to be replaced with significant rehabilitation. Definitions – A.Ought - Used to express duty or moral obligation - http://dictionary.reference.com... B.Replaced - To provide a substitute or equivalent in the place of - http://dictionary.reference.com... C.Rehabilitation - to restore to a condition of good health, ability to work, or the like - http://dictionary.reference.com... D.Misdemeanor - A lesser crime punishable by a fine and/or county jail time for up to one year -http://dictionary.law.com...|| Observation: Because the resolution is asking us if we ought to replace jail time with significant rehabilitation, it is my duty to explain to you why I believe meager jail time wouldnt have a bigger impact for first, society, and secondly, the actual criminal. That in fact significant rehab. will have a greater impact. With this we'll go to the value for the round. Value: Societal Welfare – The value of societal welfare is defined as the well being of a society in matters of health, safety, order, and economics. It is crucial for us to recognize our very own society within this resolution. Whoever proves the best terms of maintaining, protecting, and improving societal welfare shall win the round. Criterion: Cost and Benefit analysis – The criterion of cost and benefit analysis is defined as a system used to weigh the worth of some action through the advantages and disadvantages it incurs. The weighing of harms vs. the actual benefits of an action for this resolution is essential. The resolution is telling us that we need to clearly determine which we ought to abide by, this being first, the welfare of society, and secondly the criminal. When acknowledging a better from of "punishment" it is in our own best interest to note the benefits. Contention I: - The benefits of rehabilitation. When examining an article from lunet.edu (http://www.lunet.edu...) the benefits compared to those of jail, in commission of a misdemeanor crime prove to be more efficient. We all know the story of retribution, in that of it self should explain the true benefits of rehabilitation. It is proven that when taking the route of retribution, society gains, and in addition, so does the criminal. These days jail isn't enough to get the point across. The alternative is there, to replace jail time with significant rehabilitation. Furthermore when looking to an AP article of Apr. 2008 – The manner of which criminals are released after jail time correlating with a misdemeanor, their 1. Education and opportunities have lessened MORE THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE 2. And the most essential, is that we diminish criminals right to live. Not only are we interested in societal welfare, but also it is crucial to take into account the actual criminal. Contention II: How rehabilitation = Societal Welfare. In the act of rehabilitation, in replacement of jail will significantly help societal welfare for the following reasons: A.Rehab allows for the betterment of both society, as well as the criminal, in return our society, with the allowance it is proven and a near miss common sense concept that it is more effective. B.Jail doesn't serve due when it comes to a misdemeanor prosecution. As mentioned above it's not so much proving that jail sucks. It more that we have to acknowledge greater and better opportunities when it comes to these specific crimes. Moreover it ought to be noted that in cases of jail instead of rehabilitation, success is meager. It is further shown in 1967, when a petty man, who beat up an old woman for a few bucks, was given the option, by the judge, to go to jail or enlist in the military. After having structure in his life and a base of support, he was a changed man and did not return to jail ever again. His normal behavior use to be mean and violent and he changed to become a prominent member in society. By giving criminals a reason to live, not only would they be benefiting society by no longer breaking the law, but they would also be benefiting themselves. There you have it. – now I'm gunna go start my physics… that should have been done awhile ago.