The Justification for RehabilitationThe United States has the largest prison population in the world. In 2011, 2,266,800 adults were incarcerated in the United States, including federal and state prisons, as well as county jails. Additionally, at the end of 2011, 4,814,200 adults were on probation or parole. In total, 6,977,700 (2.9%) adults were under some type of correctional supervision in 2011. These numbers are not to be taken lightly. Nearly 7 million Americans in custody or on probation pose a problem. What is the solution, incarceration, rehabilitation? Is there a solid solution? You could ask 100 people how to solve this problem and get 100 different answers. The truth is, there is no one answer that works for everyone. When a person commits a crime and ends up in prison for the first time, it is a very uncomfortable and often frightening experience. However, the more time an individual spends in prison, the more accustomed they become. What was once terrifying is now accepted as a way of life. People who go to prison are surrounded by people accustomed and acclimated to a criminal lifestyle, in many ways that is all they know. A weak-minded and unaware person often falls prey to the most expert criminal mentality. This is one reason why incarceration alone will never work. According to an article by Alliance for Education, 56% of federal inmates, 67% of inmates in state prisons, and 69% of inmates in local jails have not completed high school. These figures show that you are not dealing with highly educated people when it comes to criminal activity. If a person feels they have no options or skills to enter the workforce, they are more… middle of paper… member of the community and will not reoffend. Recidivism has a direct impact on worker safety. all American citizens. Through trials and tribulations we know what doesn't work. We know that simply locking up an offender for a period of time followed by releasing him to his own devices is ineffective. We can harness their desire for change while they are in prison by supporting them and giving them the tools and skills they need to maintain that desire. In 2009, it cost an average of $47,000 to incarcerate an inmate in California. This is money that could be better used elsewhere. Investing in life skills programs reduces the number of prisoners who reoffend and clog up the system. Get help to those who really need it and want the help. Reduce overcrowding in jails and prisons and get the system back to what it was designed to do…rehabilitate.