Final answer:
Incarceration is the time spent in confinement in a jail or prison as a consequence of a judicial sentence. It aims to deter individuals from committing future crimes and prevent recidivism. However, for juveniles, incarceration is generally considered ineffective and alternative programs like diversion programs can be more effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
Incarceration
When crimes have been committed, should criminals be sent to prison? If so, for how long? One of the motivations for sentencing criminals to prison is deterrence, as discussed previously. An additional motivation for incarceration is to prevent a person from committing another crime, which is also called recidivism. Whether or how long individuals should be in prison is debatable. For juveniles, incarceration is by far the worst option; compared to administering no consequences, incarceration actually increases future crime. Juvenile incarceration is often ineffective. It reduces the chances of returning to school, which then reduces human capital and therefore the opportunity cost of crime. Diversion programs, including community service, are a more effective alternative than either juvenile incarceration or doing nothing.*7