The Effects of Non-Violent Criminals in Jails

The Effects of Non-Violent Criminals in Jails

In society non- violent criminals are being faced with jail time, instead of being given other options. Society should find other ways to punish non- violent criminals besides jail time. If society does not use other options besides jail time it causes many effects. Some of the effects are higher taxes, overcrowded jails, and non- violent criminals becoming the victims of violent activities in the jails. Society would benefit if other options were used such community service. Using community service to punish our non- violent criminals instead of giving them jail time could benefit them and so can the society.

Finding other ways to punish non- violent criminals would make a difference, because an effect such as taxes would change. The people in society pay tax on the violent and non- violent criminals in the jails. Different states in the United States have short budgets due to the bad economy. If the non-violent criminals were released, the states would save a lot more money because while these criminals are doing their sentences we the people are paying for the time and the space they take up in the jails.

Other options for these non-violent criminals would make more space in the jails for the more serious criminals. The jails become more crowded when non-violent criminals are placed in the jails to do time. It's better for the violent criminals to be placed in jail so the people in society are protected for the violence. An effect of an overcrowded jail is there is less of everything to go around in to everyone. Also the opportunities for inmates to improve themselves and participate in programs such as, academics, employment, and any type of vocational training is cut short. Overcrowded jails cause lack of work opportunities that leads inmates to idleness, causing disruptive behavior.

The non-violent criminals become the victims in jail, because they have to defend themselves from many different situations. Some of the inmates take their frustration or aggressive behavior out on these non-violent criminals, causing them to become violent as well. The more that the other inmate cause violence it makes it harder for the non-violent criminals to rehabilitate themselves. If they become violent in the jail while serving their sentence it could cause their sentence to be prolonged.

Finding another way to punish non-violent criminals would benefit society. One other way to punish a non-violent criminal is community service. Community service has many different benefits and opportunities. If a non-violent criminal decided to use community service as an opportunity to serve and easy sentence for their crime it would help them personally. Using community service helps a person to choose their passion in life, learn leadership, and learn how to keep commitment. A lot of the different community service programs have