Introduction
Different sentencing models have been introduced in the justice because of the pressure caused by the need for an effective correctional system. The goal of these sentencing models implemented in the correctional system is to ensure crime is effectively curbed. The society continues to yearn for a justice system that can put an end to the acts of criminals. The department for corrections is a significant player in the justice system of a country. It is the department that deals with issues like crime, through measures such as sentences in order to counter recidivism in the system. The sentencing models applied in the correctional department usually have varying levels of success. Their impact on corrections within the justice system is quite different.
Sentencing models
The first sentencing model that is notable in this paper is incapacitation and deterrence. This sentencing model was introduced within the justice system in the 1960s in order to curb great criminal activities, which had become rampant. At this time, various law and order activists raised disappointment that the existing models were simply cuddling and pampering criminals. The activists wanted at least tough sentences that would make it as good punishment for the criminals (Gingrich & Nolan, 2011). This model involves long period of imprisonment. There is a minimum imprisonment term for every criminal. The rationale behind this model is that as long as a criminal is put behind bars for long period of time, it is impossible for him or her to commit other acts of crime outside the prison.
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This model has had its share of impact on the state of corrections in the country. Firstly, it has caused huge prison populations leading to crowding of people in the cells. With this model, people are imprisoned but do not come out easily since it takes long for them to complete their minimum imprisonment terms. Therefore, the rate of entry of new prisoners is higher than that of those leaving the cells. Today, the United States has some of the world’s largest prison populations because of this model of sentencing. The early-release method of dealing with the issue of overcrowding in the prison cells cannot be applied with this sentencing model. With the other models, which the activists were against, early release from the prison through earned-time incentives, good-time reductions and other measures made it easy for the proper management of the size of populations within the prison (Maruna, 2011). Since it makes prisons to hold populations that are beyond their capacities, the incapacitation and deterrence model of sentencing can be said to have had a negative impact on corrections. It has failed to be effective as expected of it at its inception. Other effects of this particular model include increased financial burden on the society. The government has to get money through taxing in order to fund these overcrowded prisons. Such developments make members of the society to feel incarceration is an added burden to their lives. Therefore, this model of sentencing creates huge financial pressures on the prison system making corrections not effective.
This model makes the corrections system poor by the health effects that result from the overcrowded prisons. The sanitation and environment in the overcrowded prison is deteriorated and the outcome is various diseases that affect the inmates. Sometimes these diseases spill over into the nearby community. The diseases of inmates are exacerbated by the poor nutrition present within the prison. Since the society is affected by such developments like diseases coming from the prison, some members of the community start agitating for the abolitionist prison reforms. This situation is not good for the effective corrections.
The second model of sentencing is known as the justice model of sentencing. It is based on the retributive concepts of deserved punishment. Under this model, the sentences are made to fit the offense committed. It is important to note that this is the common sentencing model applied in the modern world. The punishment that is given to offenders is made to be proportional to the intensity of the committed crime (Nagin, 2013). The judge weighs the magnitude of the crime committed and comes up with a proportionate sentence for the criminal.
The impact of this model on corrections is that it makes them not effective since it appears to be quite lenient to the offenders. In essence, this model is thought to justify small acts of crime hence encouraging the society to engage in such forms of misconduct. The conspicuous outcome of this model of sentencing has been high rates of criminals repeating mistakes just after being released from the prison. It creates incentives for committing acts of crime. It must be noted that apart from the side of effects of the incapacitation model of sentencing, where a minimum imprisonment term is given to every criminal, it is more effective in terms of making criminals fear to commit crime than the justice model (Reitz, 2015).
Conclusion
Various sentencing models are used within the department of corrections in order to help in curbing crime. The justice model of sentencing is the most common one today. It puts much emphasis on the rights of the criminal. The weakness of this model is that despite the criminal being on the wrong side of the law, it insists on according him or her protection hence creating an incentive for committing the perceived small acts of crime. There is need for a more integrated sentencing model that ensures less population size within the prison, but also painful punishment for the criminals.
References
Gingrich, N., & Nolan, P. (2011). Prison reform: A smart way for states to save money and lives. Washington Post , 7 .
Maruna, S. (2011). Lessons for justice reinvestment from restorative justice and the justice model experience. Criminology & Public Policy , 10 (3), 661-669.
Nagin, D. S. (2013). Deterrence in the twenty-first century. Crime and Justice , 42 (1), 199-263.
Reitz, K. R. (Ed.). (2015). The Oxford handbook of sentencing and corrections . Oxford University Press.
