The role of prisons should be to punish criminals who have committed serious crimes. Training courses and education offered to prisoners are a waste of taxpayers' money. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

There is a claim that a prison’s main role should be to punish criminals who committed serious crimes, making training courses and education a waste of taxpayer funds. I totally disagree with this view, since the ‘punishment only’ approach results in high recidivism rates, with many criminals coming back to prison.

Investing money in rehabilitation systems is one of, if not the best, ways to reduce recidivism. Current Scandinavian practices show evidence of decreased reoffending rates thanks to education and skill training given to inmates. In other words, instead of focusing on punishment only, many prisons in those European countries have been providing prisoners with opportunities to learn, so that they can change and potentially lead a law-abiding and productive life. Sessions with psychologists, and access to books and game rooms, can all be cited as effective measures within a correctional facility that favors education.

Criminals that reintegrate into society can be of great use to the local economies. They can take jobs in various industries and help the economy grow. As they avoid prisons, they can also reduce populations in correctional facilities, meaning it is a way to spend less money on maintaining prisons. Thus, investing in education and training within prisons is actually a financially sensible way to reduce the overall amount of money being spent on maintaining huge prison populations.

In conclusion, money spent on educating and training criminals is a long-term investment that reduces prison populations and helps local economies. Those who do not reoffend can be an addition to the country’s labor force, meaning they can make a positive contribution.

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