Today's inmate is tomorrow's neighbor. Given the behavior learned in prison, how could anyone be surprised that violent crime is on the rise. In this sense, the criminal justice system , through its flawed strategies, is actually increasing the amount of violent crime. Only programs considered frills address such goals, and these programs have been, and continue to be cut back throughout the nation. Imprisonment Not a Deterrent Contrary to political rhetoric, the threat of imprisonment is not much of a deterrent to crime.
Most offenders are impulsive, short-term thinkers.
Imprisonment does not serve the function most often assigned to it. Imprisonment is not an instrument for crime prevention. To prevent crime, we must respond to the fact that our most serious offenders have been subjected to patterns of abuse and neglect . That, of course, does not excuse a crime. Experienced teachers can often spot the second grader who will become the serious sociopath.