Random Thoughts on Corrections

As part of my training over the past week, I've been taking a module on correctional knowledge. Here are some random thoughts on the topic.

Human Responsibility

The circumstances someone is in may lead him to commit a crime. But they should not cause him to commit a crime (assuming that he has (libertarian) free will). For example, someone may end up stealing because he is poor. But just because he is poor does not mean that he will end up stealing.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Deterrence

There are two ways to deter potential criminals from committing crimes and coming to prison. One way is to make prisons harsher such that no one wants to suffer a conviction. The other way is to make society more caring such that no one wants to forfeit being a part of society.

Rehabilitation and Prevention

By definition, rehabilitation is about correcting mistakes and putting things right. Meanwhile, prevention is about ensuring that mistakes do not happen, that nothing goes wrong in the first place. To this end, rehabilitation will always be a step behind prevention. (Nevertheless, reducing reoffending - though not as effective as preventing offending - is still better than not doing anything about offending.) As the saying goes, 'prevention is better than cure'.

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." - Romans 6:1-4 (NIV)