Correctional Alternatives

When beginning my research on incarceration alternatives I had no idea what I would learn.  Although I had an idea but I did learn a lot.  I chose to look at the history, effectiveness and benefits to boot camps, home confinement and pretrial diversion programs.  When I was researching about boot camps I learned that they have been around for many years and that a lot of people are not for boot camps and how they are ran, I myself am a supporter, for the right person in the right cases.  It is said that they are not effective and that they do nothing but harm the individual and don't get them the help that they need.  When I was researching home confinement I learned that this is being used more because of its effectiveness of the offenders abiding.  Although it is still a problem in some instances because although the offender may not be able to leave the house or check in at certain times, well what when they ate not checking in or who is coming to see them... but I personally think that they are a great thing for the right person.  When researching diversion programs, this is where I learned the most and found this to be so interesting.  When the first diversion program came about, it was not long after that all jurisdictions were recommended to fund and establish their own pretrial diversion program.  This is the most beneficial to both sides, the offender and the system including the courts and prosecutors and officers.  It not only gives the chance to give the offender a second chance but it also speeds up the whole process.  This gets the more serious offenders in their quicker.  This alternative also saves on tax payer's money because not running a person through the system saves on time and workers, therefore it saves on money.  They also are not incarcerated when given the chance to be referred to a diversion program.  This gives the offender a second chance to realize that breaking the law is not the way that they want to live their lives and with no criminal background then they can still live a normal life and move on.  I can apply all that I learned in my future in the Criminal Justice field.  I would like to become a Probation Officer someday in my future therefore learning about these alternatives will be very beneficial for me to know.  To know what alternative may be appropriate for one offender may not be the right one for someone else.  So having the knowledge and understanding of these alternatives I will know more on what sort of decision to make for whom.  When coming to certain cases, different alternatives to incarceration will be most appropriate for certain people and it is my thoughts and suggestions that will affect the judge's decision in the end.  So in the end of my research on these alternatives I am very happy to say that I learned a lot and can't wait to apply it to my future in whatever it is that I may do!!  I am confident that these are right choices in right cases and I stand behind them!