Question

What are some limitations to community based corrections?

Answer 1

A community-based correction refers to letting the criminal serve in the community which would have a major impact on their behaviour as well as give them a taste of the real world outside. Community-based correction is used with criminals who are not violent and are low-level. For instance, an individual has committed a crime, is sent to a old age home to serve in the community. He goes to the center for eight hours a day and returns back to the prison. This gives the prisoner the opportunity to be able to interact with others in the community, be more empathetic towards others and learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.

However, community based corrections has it's disadvantages as well. Some of the limitations include;

• The surroundings or neighbourhood feel unsafe with criminals working with them. They feel the prisoners would turn hostile against them and they can't be trusted.
• It is not punitive enough. It is not enough a punishment. A punishment must be a lot more harsher for the criminals in order to correct their behaviour.
• The number of probation officers are limited. This leads to lesser vigilance.