Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Does Donald Trump or Joe Biden have the better approach to Policing?
Position‹2 of 3›
Joe Biden has the better approach to Policing
Argument1 of 5›

Biden will pivot the justice system towards rehabilitation

Biden has declared that "Making sure formerly incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to be productive members of our society is not only the right thing to do, it will also grow our economy."

The argument

Joe Biden believes in pivoting the prison system towards reform, rather than punishment. One example of this is his belief that anyone who serves time in prison, must be able to receive any program offered by the federal government. If we reduced reincarceration through rehabilitation, it would result in reduced crime, as well as both direct and indirect financial benefits. But, this is an uphill battle as some officials view the main goal of prisons to currently be the storage of criminals, not rehabilitation. For example, in a survey by the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, about 30 percent of felons had no high school diploma.Yet, the funding for education programs in prison is inconsistent between states. Prisoners face even more roadblocks, after release, because they often suffer from a lack of government support to get them back on their feet. In California, 46 percent of prisoners released in 2012-2013 ended up convicted of another crime within three years. Many experts say the first 72 hours after release are the most important to signify if they will lead away from, or back towards prison. Most states give prisoners "gate money" when released, this ranges from the most money, $200 in California, to no money in New Hampshire. If they can make this money or lack of money, last 72-hours, next they have to worry about finding a job, and a place to sleep. Yet, many employers and landlords refuse to employ or rent to felons.Both of these can cause homelessness, which leads to a higher chance of reincarceration. With the lack of rehabilitation or aid provided to prisoners and recently released prisoners, Biden has a good reason for this stance.

Premises

[P1]Proponents note Biden favours pivoting the prison system toward rehabilitation over punishment — for instance guaranteeing every prisoner access to federal programs — which they argue would cut reincarceration and yield direct and indirect financial benefits. [P2] They point to the roadblocks released prisoners face — inconsistent prison education funding, minimal "gate money," and employers and landlords who refuse felons, contributing to a 46% three-year reconviction rate in California — as evidence rehabilitation and post-release support are needed. [C] Because rehabilitation addresses these drivers of recidivism, proponents conclude Biden's pivot toward it gives him the better approach to policing.

Counter-arguments

Joe Biden will not pivot the U.S. Prison system towards rehabilitation. He once stated in a 1976 speech that the U.S. Justice System should stress punishment, rather than rehabilitation.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] The proposal is described and the effects are predicted. Guaranteeing access to federal programmes is a policy commitment, and whether it would reduce reincarceration depends on which programmes, delivered how and to whom — the questions the evidence on prison education and re-entry treats as decisive. The financial benefits are asserted without figures. [Rejecting P2] The obstacles listed are well documented and show that a problem exists, not that this remedy addresses it. The reconviction figure describes a state system, while the proposals are federal, covering a small fraction of the American prison population. The record the counter raises also goes unanswered. [Rejecting C] The conclusion changes the subject at its final step. The position concerns policing, and the premises are almost entirely about prisons and re-entry — related, but not the same field, and the comparison a "better approach to policing" needs is never made.