Should criminals be sent to a jail or let them do something else as punishment instead of sending into a jail? Why and give your reasons.

　　There has long been controversy concerning the objectives of the justice system. Sending criminals to a prison seems to be a justified punishment for damages inflicted to victims or society. But currently an increasing number of people goes with the option that criminals should be given appropriate amount of community services as a substitute of correction measures.

　　Traditionally courts sentence law violators to serve a period of time in a prison or, under some circumstances, a correction institution if the offenders are minors or the charges are not serious. Criminals, after serving their time, are discharged back to the street. Ironically many of them end up becoming victims of the law itself. For example, a forty years old man served 10 years in prison for intentional injury. Released from jail, he found himself having great trouble in making a living because he lacked new skills and knowledge for work. No place wanted him for fear of possible future wrongdoings because of his criminal record. In many cases, ex-criminals become outcasts of community and are forced to commit other crimes for revenge or other reasons.

　　On the contrary, criminals could be changed into contributing members of the society again if given a second chance. In such cases, they perform public services under supervision making a meager but honest living. This not only cuts the expenses of keeping them in jails such as food, cloth, and numerous other costs, but also warns would-be law offenders the consequences for illegal actions. This is particularly effective for minor criminals who stand a greater chance of achieving the corrective aims.

　　But it is no easy job to draw a fine line between those who should be given a lighter punishment and those who should be more heavily published due the nature of law under complex circumstances. Nevertheless, we should encourage more effective ways of law enforcement to protect law-abiding citizens and, at the same time, deter and punish violators at any level so that criminals would not take advantage of lighter punishments.

　　To sum up, either sending criminals to a prison or giving them community work as another form of punishment has merits for different reasons. But we need to be clear of the goals of law and choose more effective ways of law enforcement.

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