The current prison system is not effective

The prison system was intended to punish inmates for their crimes by separating them from the population and placing them in poor living conditions. As the prison population grew, punishment became more severe, and people were given longer sentences. Increasing incarceration rates has no correlation to lower crime rates, proving the prison system needs to be reformed to reflect rehabilitation, not suffering. Crime rates have not changed despite increased incarceration populations because more non-violent offenders are being imprisoned. This may punish criminals for their crimes, but it does nothing to change their behavior or improve their chances of success after being released.^[1] Imprisoning people as a form of punishment is not effective in lowering crime rates. Instead, prisons should be reformed to help criminals gain more opportunities to keep them from reoffending. By offering rehabilitation, education, and financial opportunities to convicts, crime and recidivism rates will be lower.^[2]

[P1] Prisons were designed as a punishment for committing a crime. [P2] Despite higher incarceration numbers, crime rates have not dropped. [P3] Therefore, the current prison system is not effective and should be reformed.