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Topic: Some feel that punishment should focus more on rehabilitation instead of long prison terms. Others feel prison terms are important for social stability. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Essay:

It is believed that reintegration into society should be of top priority when it comes to punishment. However, another school of thought holds that long imprisonment is crucial for keeping society stable. I argue that each of the mentioned methods serves a unique function in regulating the wellness of a country.

There is little room for doubt that giving a penalty that helps offenders rehabilitate better may contribute to building a safer society. As a matter of fact, rehab programs which put an emphasis on morality and education ought to act as an effective deterrent against relapsing, especially in the cases of minor crimes. Such methods of punishment delve into explaining to the convicts the consequences of their wrongdoings and instructing them to do the right deeds. For example, with civil education classes in support of a short period of incarceration for first-time low-level criminals, New Zealand recorded a mere 1.5% rate of repeating lawbreakers in 2021, making the island state one of the safest nations on Earth in the past year.

However, when it comes to habitual criminals, who have committed crimes repeatedly and have little respect for the legal system, putting them in captivity seems to be the only remedy to maintain social security. These perpetrators give little consideration to others’ well-being and act with evil motives and behaviours deeply ingrained in their system. Should such evildoers be released to walk among the law-abiding citizens, they will, sooner or later, contaminate society or pose threats to the wellness of nations. Thus, by locking them behind the bars, governments can ensure a more secure society with a lower level of major crimes.

To recapitulate, even though imprisonment acts as the ultimate remedy for criminal acts, not all lawbreakers should receive such harsh punishment. It is recommended that rehabilitation programs be the punishing method for less serious crimes to ensure the stability of a nation.