Alternative Sentencing and Community Correction

The rise in the rate of crimes has led to congestion in the prisons in the U.S, necessitating the need for integrating alternative solutions to mitigate crime. These alternatives could be utilized either pre or post-criminalization. Common sentencing alternatives include rehabilitation, fine, restitution, reintegration, community correction, or probation. For example, a tweet on the Texas State Department of Corrections, " After 13 years of incarceration, Keidrain Brewster is now the successful business owner of Brewster logistics where he employs ex-inmates. He returned to TDCJ to deliver a motivational message to approximately 100 inmates at the Hutchins state jail” ("The official twitter account for the Texas Department of criminal justice", 2022), portrays a community correction program through reintegration to reduce the rate of crimes.

Community corrections entail the various programs that serve and monitor offenders before or after conviction to reduce the crime rate and recidivism. One of the common methods of community corrections is reintegration, where the community utilizes the available resources to encourage adherence to the law for ex-criminals (Hanser, 2018). For instance, the community could offer opportunities such as education, housing, and employment to initiate a positive attitude in the offenders to shun criminal activities and abide by the laws in the community. The tweet, the ex-inmate offering job opportunities to other ex-inmates, and motivational talks to those in jail act as a way of offering community correction (Hanser, 2018). For instance, most causes of increased crime rate are poverty, resulting from lack of education or employment; therefore, offering employment opportunities and encouragement could help reform the ex-criminals. Therefore, community corrections and other alternatives for imprisonment include community correction programs such as reintegration and a positive living attitude to the offenders.

A tweet on the Texas State Department of Corrections, " After 13 years of incarceration, Keidrain Brewster is now the successful business owner of Brewster logistics where he employs ex-inmates. He returned to TDCJ to deliver a motivational message to approximately 100 inmates at the Hutchins state jail,” portrays a community correction program through reintegration to reduce the rate of crimes. Therefore, community corrections and other alternatives for imprisonment include community correction programs such as reintegrating a positive living attitude in the offenders.

References

Hanser, R. D. (2018). Essentials of community corrections. SAGE Publications.

The official twitter account for the Texas Department of criminal justice. (2022).mobile.twitter.com/tdcj