The punishment for many criminal convictions is incarceration. For some minor crimes, this could just be a few months or up to a year. For more serious offenses, people could serve over a decade.
Often, the goal of incarceration is presented as stopping people from committing future criminal offenses. Because they faced the punishment and know what is at stake, they should be less likely to reoffend.
However, studies find that incarceration often increases reoffending risks, especially for young people. So if the goal is to prevent future criminal activity, why is time behind bars actually doing the exact opposite?
Education and employment
There are many potential reasons, but two of the biggest are that it can interfere with a person’s education and employment opportunities.
For example, say that a young person is arrested on drug charges and sentenced to two years behind bars. As a result, they have to drop out of school. They no longer obtain their degree, and when they are released from jail, they do not have an education and they do have a criminal record. This makes it almost impossible for them to find a stable job.
As a result, that person may be more likely to return to drug offenses, such as selling illegal drugs, simply as a way to make an income. Because the time behind bars destabilized their life, future criminal acts become more likely.
It is very important to consider the big picture for anyone who finds themselves facing criminal charges, including the way that a potential sentence could affect their future. Those facing serious allegations need to know about all of the criminal defense options at their disposal.