It really upset me that when we visited the jails, that most of the prisoners we saw were of minority racial groups. I wish it wasn't that way, that more people in minorites are caught doing whatever crimes that white people are doing also, but unfortunatley that is the way it is. As it says in The Vicious Circle essay, more minority racial groups are in the jails. Most prisoners have commited secondary deviance. They did not just make on estupid mistake when they were young. They have made repeated deviant acts and crimes which have landed them in jail.
I do think prisons are a way of controling criminal behavior to an extent. For murders and rapists yes, I do believe that they should be locked up and away from society. But for others no, I do not think prisons are the answer. Rehabilitiation centers are. That way, secondary deviance can be avoided, and less crime will be commited. Yes, secondary deviance is being seen here because these people have commited their crimes more than one time.
I agree with your assessment of how rehabilitation centers might be a new way to prevent recidivism among secondary deviants. What do you think about punishments being doled out to those of different races?
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