The practice of imprisoning criminals isnt something that started recently.

Prisons existed in the earliest human societies as well. Whether prisons have
been able to reform criminals is a debatable topic; however, in my opinion,
they should be there.

The fear of imprisonment acts as a major deterrent and prevents many people
from committing crimes. No one wants to get locked up. If there were no
prisons or a system for punishing the guilty, the society would be much less
safe. Prisons probably have not been able to reform the criminals. While some
come out as reformed individuals, many become hardened criminals after
spending time behind the bars. Therefore, I have hardly any faith in the ability
of prisons to reform people. Still, while criminals are behind the bars, people
can live without having to fear them. Locking them up is definitely an effective
way of protecting the society from them.

Creating awareness about the ill effects of crime through education is

definitely worth trying. However, I dont think that education will solve all the
problems plaguing the society. When people are made aware of the
consequences of their actions, they may be less inclined to commit crimes.
Still, believing that by simply providing education we will be able to reform the
entire humanity seems foolhardy. If things were that easy, we wouldnt be
seeing so much criminal activity today.

Many people who commit crimes are actually aware of their actions. They
know what they are doing. They hail from influential families. It is not the lack
of education that prompts them to commit crimes rather it is the belief that
they will be able to get away with their crimes. These are the kind of people
who need to be locked up.

To conclude, education might be beneficial in creating awareness; however, it

cannot replace the penal system or prisons. If we want to live without fear, we
need a system to prosecute criminals and put them behind bars.