(C2 writing) Essay on prisons and crime

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In New Zealand there are nearly 10,000 prisoners and this number has increased over the last few years. 

The number of prisoners in New Zealand is on the rise. As of now it as nearly reached 10,000 inmates - one of the highest incarceration rates per capita in the world.

Of course, it is important to punish crimes and lock up people who might be a danger to society. 

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However, it is controversial if putting somebody away is really target-aimed or whether being imprisoned could make the inmates even more criminal. 

However, it is problematic if putting somebody away is in fact target-aimed. Moreover, there is mounting evidence that prisons actually drive crime by making inmates more criminal.

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It is crucial that prisoners spend their time doing something meaningful to give them a chance to live a better life after their release. To assure this, prisons need to give inmates the opportunity to learn and to work. This helps them to find a job after their time in prison and gives them a more stable life. Especially young people need to be shown that they can do something better with their life than committing crimes and being imprisoned.

In addition, by doing some work the prisoners are also paying their debt to society. They can either do something directly for the community, like collecting trash in public places, or they can earn money by producing things that can be sold. This money can be used to pay for their stay in prison. It is very expensive to have someone stay in prison and it is payed with taxes. I believe it is fair and sensible that inmates contribute to these costs.

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I personally think it is better for everyone if prisoners get a job to do or if they can go to school in prison. It is better for them during the time in prison, because they have something to do and it also helps them in the future life and might prevent them from committing crimes again. So instead of just locking people up the government should develop ideas how to improve prisons concerning the aspects that have been mentioned in this essay.

In my view, there seem to be multiple reasons forprisoners to be provided with meaningful work and education in prison. Not only is it better for them during the time in prison, giving them something to do, but it also helps them in future life and might prevent them from committing crimes again. The long term benefits of this to society will be a decrease in crime and more productive citizens. So instead of just locking people up the government should develop ideas on how to design and run prisons as reformative rather than punitive institutions.