Just Dessert is Just Stupid

As of 2005the recidivism rates in the US were at a staggering 65% for men and 50% for women. In 2009 these rates for both genders totalled in at 67%. Now is it just me or is this very disturbing to everyone? The problems in our criminal justice are far and wide and we all see the end result of what is becoming (and has been for many years) the theory of just dessert. We have all heard this expression at one time or another in our adult lives but for those of you who just think it is a witty saying let me clarify; just dessert is getting what one deserves. In our crimnal justice system it is simply put as punishment for the sake of punishing. Even the simplist mind can conclude that is is wrong and does not work in any way, shape, or form. Think about it from the prespective of a parent. Personally, when I punish my children there is a purpose behind the punishment. For instance, if my son won't clean up his toys I will take them away. The lesson found in that is if you don't care for your things you will loose them which is something they need to know for their adult lives. My kids are still young so though I am not here yet I think if they came home late that maybe I would take their driving privlages away showing them if they abuse their freedom they will loose it which is also an important lesson to learn in life. M point is that there should not just be punishing for the sake of punishing. In order for it to be effecive a lesson must follow the punishment. If we follow this model with our children why do we take criminal offenders and not do the same? We take criminals, stick them in prison and let them think on it. What is the point of this just dessert? Locking away a person and not being active in their recovery and teachings is like taking a childs video game away becasue they didn't eat their dinner. Where is the lesson in that? It is my strong opinion that almost every offeder can be rehabilitated. I cannot prove this theory as our rehabilitation system is poor at best so I have nothing to truly compare it to. But what I do know for sure is this; what we are doing now DOES NOT WORK. Many people do not agree with me. Many people are of the opinion that if a person has killed, stolen, or dealt drugs that they have gotten what the deserved and are in no way worthy of getting treated or helped. To those people I say this; I in no way condone what an offender has done. His or her victims are the ones who have suffered and did not deserve whatever experience they must live with. However, even if you cannot see it in your heart to want the offender to get better you can at least see the benefit of rehab for the community as a whole. What good does it do to release an inmate back into societywho has not been helped while locked up? Many people go to prison and when they come back out they are worse criminas then they were to begin with. Who does this effect? ALL OF US. It is not just bad for the offender but the community as a whole who has to be kept safe from them. Isn't it more sensible to attempt to rehab an offender so that there is a chance that they can become productive and safe members of our society then to give them their just desserts and allow them to reenter society no better then they were before? People are people and we can all be fixed with the exception of sociopaths. What we so desperately need is a complete overhaul of our justice system which has not run properly for as long as I have been alive. Our government needs to open their eyes and fix what is not working, but I am not holding my breath on that one. Just because it needs to happen doesn't mean it ever will and in all honesty, I am sure that things will never change. But that is just my pesimestic opinion.