Should Prisons Focus More on Rehabilitation than Punishment?

The debate on whether prisons should prioritize rehabilitation over punishment examines the fundamental aims of the criminal justice system. Historically, punitive approaches focused on deterring crime, exacting retribution, and incapacitating offenders, rooted in early legal traditions emphasizing societal vengeance. In contrast, the rehabilitation model emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, driven by reform movements and psychological theories advocating offender transformation through education, therapy, and skill development. Key terms include "incarceration" (confinement as punishment) and "rehabilitation" (programs to reintegrate individuals into society). This discussion explores issues such as reducing recidivism, ethical considerations between punitive and restorative methods, and the broader societal impacts of each approach.