Rethinking Sentencing: Alternatives to Incarceration for Nonviolent Crimes

Abstract

Forum Description: Sentencing The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population yet incarcerates 25 % of the world’s prisoners. The justification of this sentiment is attributed to legislation. Policymakers believe that high rates of incarceration reduce crime rates. The harsh policies on detention are there to mitigate crime in the country. The United States has incorporated tough-on-crime policies putting criminals in jails and prisons to a greater extent (McNair-Williams and Shandrika). The high incarceration rates in the US are attributed to the tremendous rise in crime, increased use of crack cocaine and illegal drugs, and implementation of harsh crime policies such as three-strikes laws, which allude to harsh sentencing. Offenders who have committed nonviolent crimes should be offered alternative sentences other than incarceration. An example of a nonviolent crime is possessing a small number of drugs, for instance, 200g of marijuana. This person has not given the drug to anyone or hurt anyone. This nonviolent crime can put a person in prison. Incarcerating people with nonviolent crimes causes overcrowding in prisons resulting in inadequate supervision, increased fights, and health conditions. Separating violent and nonviolent individuals helps the two classes keep o their peril. The nonviolent won’t turn out to be violent when defending themselves. There are various alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent crimes, including fines. Restitution, community service. Probation, house arrest, work release, and rehabilitation. Shock probation and split probation are effective in monitoring and curbing moral behavior. It is effective for juveniles, persons who have committed minor crimes, and first-time offenders. It is ideal for these people since it provides a second chance when crimes come as a shock or without any speculation. The death penalty is an example of capital punishment. It is deemed cruel and unusual. In the United States, the death penalty is applied unjustly and unfairly. The systems administer this type of punishment based on financial status, race, and the skills of the attorneys. The death penalty does not reduce or deter violent crime. According to (Latzer), states with death penalty laws have the highest cases of murder. Most people receive death sentences, yet they are innocent. This makes it very cruel since the United States has seen instances of exoneration in the past decades. Cutting off the death penalty saves the innocent from facing the pangs of injustice. The death penalty is not an adequate punishment for murder. It has no benefit and is a waste of taxpayers’ money. The police believe that the death penalty is the least effective tool in curbing crime (Smith 227). This punishment burdens the criminal justice system due to a waste of time by juries, attorneys, defendants,...