and alcohol problems of many prisoners or leaving prisoners entirely on their own on release, merely because a very few prisoners committed violent crimes immediately on being paroled undermines the effectiveness of the whole system of deterrence.
Dumaine argues that rehabilitative alternatives to prison are the answer to the problem of nonviolent criminals who pose no threat to the society but also need to be punished. He argues that crimes such as drug possession (for use) are not only less expensive to treat with tight probation sanctions but the problem of recidivism is also solved in many cases. The criminal who actually values the freedom that such programs give him is far less likely to repeat. With the added support of drug and alcohol programs, the success rate is high. But, Dumaine, stresses, these programs are not intended for rapists and murderers. The belief that the deterrent effect of punishment will be increased if the punishments are harsher, i.e., certain life imprisonment for a third possession charge, is incorrect. The deterr
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