Three walls. A toilet seat. Mild steel bars and a lock accessible only to men the government labels as authority figures. Prison systems are known for three things: protecting the population, punishing the criminal, and rehabilitating the prisoner so that a crime is no longer committed. However, this law sparks ongoing controversy over whether or not it deprives citizens of their vested rights or whether it actually helps them become "better" for society. For centuries, prisons have attempted to reinforce good behavior through various methods of punishment, some more severe than others. There are several types of punishment, including “corporal punishment, public humiliation, penal servitude and banishment for more serious offenses, as well as capital punishment” (Linklater, V). The harshest sanctions ask the question “Has this gone too far?” and is the suppression of the rights and humanity of a criminal justified by the response it constitutes for the protection of the people? Is justice really being served? Although the prison systems are intense and the experience is unique, this does little to help them since statistics show that "two out of five inmates nationwide return to prison within three years of release" (Ascharya , K).Population The number of people entering prison systems nationwide is increasing exponentially. Often this is due to the living conditions they return to, including facing the same poverty, limited prospects and minimal network connections that cause them to turn to crime to survive. For obvious reasons, income is the solution to many of their problems and can only be achieved with their "by any means necessary" mindset. The prison has almost become a second home for recurring inmates and...... middle of paper ......jail time would be provided, among other things. Anything that would ultimately contribute to the success of inmates is necessary. Whether it's mandatory jobs and training or curfews and other factors that benefit them. Of course, there are criminals who have no conscience to guide them as they walk these streets. Of course, there are sick people in the world who prefer to molest a child before adulthood, neither of which is justified. And of course, these are people who would act like God and take their lives because they feel like it. This is the reality of society, however, we should not incarcerate people for small things, but we should help them as citizens. Works Cited Linklater, Veronica. “Veronica Linklater.” Absolute astronomy. Absolute Astronomy, nd Web. March 28, 2014. http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/31/us-justices-filling-prisons