Crime is something that will happen every day in different cities around the globe. It is unavoidable and no country can get rid of this issue, no matter how low the crime rate is. Some people believe that giving longer prison sentences is the best way to reduce crime, but I sing a different tune.
Undoubtedly, longer sentences may serve as a deterrent to those who are planning to commit crime. Take burglary as an example. Some thieves may deem stealing things from others as an easy task and will not be discovered easily, and even if they are jailed, it would not take a long time and then they can commit burglary again. Some of them may also hold a misconception that theft is not such a serious crime and can earn them a living with a stable income. By extending the period of custodial sentences, the potential criminals might have to stay in prison for two more years, for example, for their so-called “minor offences”. This can help deter them from stealing and as a whole, reducing the crime rate, especially the not-so-serious ones, in the city.
Another benefit of prolonging the prison sentences is allowing criminals to truly reflect on their sins and providing opportunities for them to correct themselves. A longer time of imprisonment seems to be a harsher punishment for those who have violated the law, but it could be a great chance for reflection. In addition to reflecting on their crime, they may use the extra time effectively by reading a wide range of books and sharing their past experiences with other inmates, so as to broaden their horizons and explore their new targets and goals. As a result, the prisoners could stand a better chance to understand how their faults have adversely affected themselves and others after being released, and they will never repeat their illegal acts again. Not only does this life-changing experience enable offenders to re-live, but it also helps lower the crime rate of society.
However, many people argue that there are other better alternatives to tackle the issue. Education could be one of the many. Although there is already some kind of education regarding the prevention of offences at schools, it is still too inadequate to cause a decline in crime rate. Teachers should introduce various types and the evils of criminal acts such as murder, bribery, arson and so forth to students since they are young through organizing some interesting activities, in order that they could determine what actions will be considered as crime. It can strengthen their power in denying temptations when they grow up. Moreover, our government should diversify its social media platform in discouraging offences, which could help arouse the awareness of the public towards the seriousness and consequences of going illegal. All these methods can reduce crime in the long run.
Furthermore, enhancing the technology of the police force could also lessen the crime rate in our city. Advanced technical facilities can assist the police to search for offenders within a short period of time, while sophisticated weapons could be imported from overseas to catch and scare off the cunning, fleeing criminals. As a whole, improving the technological standard of the police department is a possible measure in reducing crime rate.
In my opinion, extended imprisonment is not the most powerful or practical for tackling offences. Though it might act as a deterrent against law violation, I am afraid that longer penalties would only bring harmful impact to their mental health, and even further intensify their anti-social thinking. As they might commit other horrible crimes due to their hatred and bitterness against society, it will pose a threat to the public safety. Comparatively, education and publicity seems more likely to address the root of the problem, which is to warn the young generation and prevent them from becoming criminals.
To conclude, there are a lot of valid ways to reduce criminal acts. It is true that we cannot control the others not to commit crime, but still we ourselves must stay alert so that we will not fall into the trap of violating the law.