Community-Based Alternatives, Essay Example

If the degree of certain crime or illegal action is not ranked as high, person can avoid jail sentence. Community-based alternatives such as probation or intermediate sanctions are used to punish those criminals, whose responsibility for offence is considered to be relatively small.

Some people consider probation to be rather risky activity for several reasons. Person who has performed certain illegal action is not isolated from ordinary people and, thus, can commit another crime. Offender must be put to prison in order to get punishment for his/her unlawful deeds. However, considering definitions of probation and intermediate sanctions, one needs to understand that community-based alternatives allow people bring adequate penalties for their crimes. “The advantages of a probation sentence over incarceration include allowing the offender to work in the community, earn money to support his or her family, and to have the support of friends and family while attending counseling sessions” (Corrections – Probation, 2002). Moreover, billions of dollars are spent annually maintain prisons and control criminals. By allowing offenders support themselves government saves great sums of money that can be directed to other sectors. Finally, criminals simply avoid harmful effects of life in prison and communications with other inmates.

Having analyzed advantages and disadvantages of probation and intermediate sanctions one can come to a conclusion that these types of disciplinary punishment bring a lot more benefits rather than detriments. One the one hand, community-based alternatives give an opportunity to avoid imprisonment. On the other, this policy is strict enough to control those people who have performed illegal actions.

References

Correction – Probation (2002) Law library – American Law and Legal Information. Retrieved January, 2009, from http://law.jrank.org/pages/12049/Corrections-Probation.html