Criminal JusticeAccording to Mishra (2016), the four theories of punishment include reformative, retributive, preventive and deterrent theory. The difference between these theories lies in the goal of the deterrent theory which serves as a form of punishment for lawbreakers to deter them from future violations of the law. The theory imposes a punishment as a consequence for those who have made a mistake. In the preventative theory, punishment for those found guilty includes death, life imprisonment and hard labor. Many criminologists argue that this theory allows people to refrain from crime because of its consequences. Reformative theory, on the other hand, aims to shape the conduct of offenders (Mishra, 2016). This theory is preferred by many criminologists who argue that crime is not an innate trait and that no one is born a criminal. There are several factors that push an individual to commit crimes, including poverty and other social factors (Mishra, 2016). It is widely disputed that if criminals are educated, they can behave like normal members of society. Reformative theory can be used to shape the behaviors of delinquent youth. The retributive theory focuses on subjecting the guilty person to a lot of pain and suffering. Most criminologists do not support this theory because it subjects the accused person to many inhumane acts. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Despite the difference that exists between the four theories of punishment, these theories also have various similarities. They all share the same goal which is to punish the wrongdoer (Mishra, 2016). The strategies employed by each theory aim to shape offenders' behaviors by warning others of similar consequences if they commit a crime. The rules of these theories might differ but the objectives are similar, which is to issue punishment based on the nature of the crime committed (Mishra, 2016). All theories aim to prevent people from committing a crime right before they perpetuate it. To effectively fight crime it is important to take preventive measures rather than finding a solution. Although these theories appear to be effective when integrated, it would be difficult to use them all because most of them focus on issuing different forms of punishment rather than providing early intervention measures. Educational programs within prisons can function as rehabilitation for inmates. This fact is supported by punishment reform theory which argues that if criminals were educated, their behaviors could be shaped and they would be able to refrain from committing crimes (Mishra, 2016). The Administration of Sentence Act supports the establishment of correctional facilities where offenders are given the right to access educational resources and programs (Swain & Rice, 2009). It is clear that most criminals commit crimes due to poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. Educational programs have the ability to shape criminals' behaviors enabling them to become responsible members of society (Swain & Rice, 2009). The prison environment can be further improved by introducing educational programmes. According to researchers, the prison environment can be transformed by educational programs into an enabling environment that shapes inmates' behaviors (Benson, 2003). Educational programs would help transform prisoners into professionals whose conduct would be guided by ethics acceptable in society. These programs would also help offenders during.