Many Criminals Commit More Crimes As Soon As They Are Released From Prison

Band 9 IELTS essay sample

It is quite common for former convicts to reoffend as soon as they leave the prison. This is mainly due to two reasons. First, the prison failed to reform them. Second, the society refused to accept them. Introducing effective rehabilitation options for ex-prisoners is the most effective solution to this problem.

The prison is supposed to reform criminals. Unfortunately, this rarely happens. In most cases, the prison merely hardens a first time offender by giving them an opportunity to befriend seasoned criminals. Needless to say, by the time they complete their sentence, many of them are ready to do anything for money or other incentives. They are no longer afraid of getting another jail term. Now even if they try to lead a normal life after their sentence, the society makes it hard for them. It is not easy for an ex-prisoner to find a job even if they have the required qualifications. It is not possible for them to get married or lead a normal life. Even their own family members may refuse to accept them. This failure to get reintegrated into the society drives many a petty criminal to commit more serious crimes after their release.

The only viable solution to this problem is to introduce better rehabilitation programs for ex-convicts. The government should launch schemes that enable them to find employment that suits their skills. The government should also enact laws that prevent employers from rejecting applicants just because they have served time in prison. The society has to be more accepting too. People need to realize that by turning their back on an ex-criminal, they are only reinforcing the criminal tendencies of that person. Non-governmental organizations can also do a lot of things to ensure the emotional welfare of former convicts by giving them an opportunity to give back to the society through volunteering.

To sum up, former convicts are likely to reoffend when they get rejected by their own family and the society. The only way to prevent recidivism is to offer former prisoners ample opportunities to lead a dignified and meaningful life after completing their prison term.  

Key vocabulary

Convict – a person sentenced to imprisonment for committing a crime

Former convict – A former convict is a person who has served a prison sentence after being found guilty of a crime

Rehabilitation – various measures taken to restore a former convict to a normal life

Seasoned criminals – a seasoned criminal is a person who has been committing crimes again and again

Incentives – an incentive is a thing (a monetary reward or another thing) that encourages a person to do something

Serve time in prison – to serve time in prison is to spend time in prison after being convicted of a crime

Recidivism – recidivism is the tendency of a person who has already spent time in prison to commit another crime