10. Rehabilitation should be valued over punishment in the U.S. Judicial system.
TO ERR IS INHUMANE
Rehabilitation should not be valued over punishment in the U.S. Judicial system. The question (should Rehabilitation should be valued over punishment in the U.S. Judicial system?) is answered through the definition and principles behind rehabilitation and punishment and exemplary evidence.
Rehabilitation is the restoration process of in this case an individual or group of individuals back to a useful form where they can function in society. “To restore to good condition, operation, or capacity”(dictionary.com?). Examples of rehabilitation come in the form of health, drug and behavioral. In each of these main forms, the question should be reconsidered in order to answer correctly whether rehabilitation should or should not be valued over punishment.
The most controversial form of rehabilitation is health. The issue arises because there are many cases in which an individual is not in complete control of his actions and therefore there is the feeling that this individual should not be punished. A recent example of this was Andrea Yates. The defense argued that due to mental and social disorders, Yates believed that she must drown and kill her five children. Yates was found guilty and sentenced to death. In another scenario, a mother of was in a similar situation. A spider crawled on Rebekah Amaya(mother) and "She felt it was a sign to set her children free”(CNN.com?). The difference in this case was that Amaya was released on the terms of insanity. In cases such as these, the punishment should not be death. Though there should be a very long prison sentence, the imprisonment should include sessions of mental rehabilitations. The individual should at the end realize what he or she did wrong. Though it is at times very hard to see the truth through the individual – all should be given a fair chance. If there is any doubt of insanity or mental disorder, long-term imprisonment and rehabilitation is the answer. The individual here is being punished severely because of the isolation and the severe rehabilitation.
Drugs have posed a serious problem in America. The age of trying new narcotics is reducing and the number of people trying the drugs and being addicted is drastically increasing. When caught with drugs, punishment should strongly be taken over rehabilitation. Leniency should only be allowed to a certain age and very few chances should be given. It does not matter if you are an athlete or college student – Drugs many times usually lead to other misjudgments and cause serious problems in society. Countries such as Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi all take punishment over rehabilitation when dealing with the mistreatment of drugs. The countries are still very modernized with a low crime rate and drugs pose minimal problems. In such a large country as United States, though very hard to control drugs, initiative must be taken for a stronger stance. When athletes and public figures that set example for those who follow take drugs – it creates misinterpretations. It creates the feeling that it is alright to take drugs and the idea that if you get caught, there will not be repercussions. Strong punishment must follow those who disobey the law, especially laws concerning drugs.
The last major form of rehabilitation that occurs is social and behavioral rehabilitation. When social or behavioral problems occur, punishment is key. Behavioral problems such as burglary and robbery should definitely have punishment with a long prison sentence. Murder should be taken very seriously. In these cases, rehabilitation should not be considered. These men have obviously shown that they are a threat to the community. Many of these men get reduced sentences after they undergo therapy and community service. The individual that not only they realize the mistakes but also be punished for endangering the fellow citizen. In most cases, the United States judicial system fairly addresses this issue, but there are still many times where rehabilitation is considered over punishment and that should not be the case.
The question that arises is not whether rehabilitation should be valued over punishment but rather, what should the severity of the punishment be.