Probation is a means of rehabilitation within the community. It is a way to introduce offenders into the community in a positive way. Offenders learn to give back to the community but, still learn that what they did was wrong. Incarceration is a means of punishment to the offenders. Offenders are locked up and in some cases for 23 hours at a time, depending on the prison and on the charges. Probation is more effective, in my opinion, because it allows the offender to live at home in most cases but, still understand the law that was broken. The offender does not have to be locked up in a cell and under 24 hours of supervision. Incarceration is not for everyone but, neither is probation. Criminals who were arrested for drug procession versus criminals who murdered another human being should not receive the same punishment. There are different types of probation including unsupervised probation, supervised probation, community control, shock probation and crime specific types. Crime specific types like “more serious offenses, such as drug offenses may require that the offender take additional steps like undergoing counseling and rehabilitation. Sex offenses require an offender to register on a sex offender registry in the area where the offender lives.” (McKenna, 2016) The most important part of using probation versus incarceration is the fact is cost lest. Tax payers pay a lot of money to keep criminals incarcerated. I think we need to research into what other types of crimes can utilize probation rather than incarceration. It would help with the overcrowding in prisons and jails. Rehabilitation, in my opinion, is more effective in helping criminals understand their behaviors.
