Criminal Justice | Prisons Are Responsible for the Drop in Crime Rates

In the following viewpoint, Morgan O. Reynolds argues that the crime rate has declined because of new get-tough policies that are putting more criminals in prison. Criminals are aware of the increased likelihood that punishment awaits them, he asserts, and therefore they are making a rational choice to not commit crimes. Studies have found that criminals are more influenced by the certainty of punishment than the severity of punishment. Since the risk of imprisonment has increased, Reynolds maintains, the crime rate has steadily declined. Reynolds is a senior fellow and director of the...

[The entire page is 2312 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the: