Question

You are given the task of reducing your state’s correctional population by 10 percent by diverting offenders away from prison or releasing inmates on parole. What approach would you take? Provide a rationale for your choice. What community services would help your offenders?

Answer 1

Since the concept of diversion involves the individual to be given an opportunity outside of the formal criminal justice system, generally through an informal method. It can involve the diversion from any part of the criminal justice system—prison, jail, probation, and/or adjudication. The main advantage is that in case of diversion an individual, successfully avoids either a severe sanction such as incarceration or a criminal record due to expungement for nonprosecuted offenses. However, the disadvantage is that divergence for serious crimes such as murder, sexual assault, and terrorist attack leads to lack of deterrence. There are certain crimes that deserve appropriate punishment for deterrence otherwise they will be perpetuated in society. Thus in such cases releasing inmates on parole is better only if they deserve.