The public holds many misconceptions about criminal justice and prison life. Prisons do not resemble country clubs, even though the material amenities have improved over the years. Incarceration is not a deterrent to crime, but instead often reinforces a criminal lifestyle. The deprivation of liberty is basically counterproductive, as it is an impediment to the reintegration of the offender into society, a prerequisite to sound crime prevention. In Criminal Justice: Pros and Cons, author Paul Williams seeks to dispel these common myths about the criminal justice system. Relying on five decades of experience as a penitentiary psychologist and parole board member, he explores some of the problems and challenges of the current system as it stands now. He includes personal anecdotes from his many years dealing with the system firsthand.Williams examines the parole process, which is contingent upon an institutional experience directed toward future, crime-free living in the community rather than directed at suppression and control. He also states that the predominant bureaucratic approach, bolstered by technological advance, must be constrained so as not to supplant the personal element in this complex people business. A vibrant, autonomous, community-based sector is essential to the development and maintenance of a healthy criminal justice system.Learn the ins and outs of the criminal justice system from an insiders personal experiences in Criminal Justice: Pros and Cons.
