Some people think that all lawbreaker should be put into prison, while others believed that there are better alternatives. Discuss both view and give your opinion.
Some individuals would contend that prison sentences should be imposed on all offenders, whereas others believe that there are other more viable solutions for them such as mandatory community service. In my opinion, although imprisonment can be an effective deterrence to crime, this punishment is too harsh and can lead to negative ramifications for society.
On the one hand, proponents of imprisoning all offenders argue that this strict punishment can deter crime. If there is a general understanding that perpetrating crimes have seriously negative consequences, even for minor ones, individuals are less likely to be involved in criminal activity. In countries such as Singapore, where even shoplifters might be convicted and sent to jail, crime rates tend to be exceptionally low. In contrast, the US legal system only treats shoplifting as a misdemeanor; therefore, the perceived consequences are minimal, which may encourage others to commit the same crime. These prison sentences for minor offences can also be reported on national television and state media to serve as a warning and curb criminal behavior.
However, I believe that imprisonment should only be reserved for serious crimes as applying it to every offender could lead to negative repercussions. When individuals who commit minor and serious crimes are both sent to the same prisons, the former group’s behavior is likely to be adversely influenced by the latter, leading them to develop more serious anti-social behavior. For example, inmates might feel compelled to engage in violent acts or join prison gangs to ensure their safety. Over time, such behavior might become ingrained, persisting even after they have served their sentences. As a result, former prisoners may struggle to reintegrate into society, increasing the likelihood of reincarceration. This issue is further exacerbated when inmates are exposed to violence or abuse within prison environments, which can have lasting psychological effects and hinder their rehabilitation.
In conclusion, although prison sentences can discourage individuals from engaging in criminal behaviors, this penalty is too extreme and should not be enforced.
🔹 B2 Level
individuals : cá nhân
offenders : người phạm tội
solutions : giải pháp
mandatory community service : lao động công ích bắt buộc
effective : hiệu quả
crime : tội phạm
minor crimes / minor offences : tội nhẹ
serious crimes : tội nghiêm trọng
criminal activity : hoạt động phạm tội
shoplifters : kẻ trộm đồ trong cửa hàng
sent to jail : bị đưa vào tù
crime rates : tỷ lệ tội phạm
prison sentences : án tù
warning : lời cảnh báo
prisons : nhà tù
violent acts : hành vi bạo lực
safety : sự an toàn
served their sentences : chấp hành xong án phạt
former prisoners : cựu tù nhân
society : xã hội
🔹 C1 Level
contend : cho rằng / lập luận rằng
imposed : áp đặt / thi hành
viable solutions : giải pháp khả thi
imprisonment : việc bỏ tù
deterrence : sự răn đe
harsh : khắc nghiệt
ramifications : hệ quả
proponents : những người ủng hộ
deterring crime : ngăn chặn tội phạm
perpetrating crimes : thực hiện hành vi phạm tội
negative consequences : hậu quả tiêu cực
convicted : bị kết án
exceptionally low : cực kỳ thấp
legal system : hệ thống pháp luật
misdemeanor : tội nhẹ
perceived consequences : hậu quả được nhận thức
curb criminal behavior : kiềm chế hành vi phạm tội
reserved for : chỉ dành cho
negative repercussions : hậu quả tiêu cực
adversely influenced : bị ảnh hưởng tiêu cực
anti-social behavior : hành vi chống đối xã hội
compelled to : bị buộc / bị thúc ép phải
ingrained : ăn sâu, hình thành thói quen khó bỏ
reintegrate into society : tái hòa nhập xã hội
likelihood : khả năng xảy ra
exacerbated : làm trầm trọng thêm
rehabilitation : sự cải tạo / phục hồi
🔹 C2 Level
reincarceration : việc bị bỏ tù trở lại
persisting : tiếp diễn / kéo dài
lasting psychological effects : tác động tâm lý lâu dài
hinder : cản trở
enforced : được thực thi (luật / hình phạt)