Are Prisons Truly Designed to Reform or Simply Punish?

Is the purpose of our prison system true reform, or is it about punishment? This question has stirred debates among policymakers, advocates, and society at large. Author Hassan Nemazee, an Iranian-American who has explored the penal system firsthand, raises concerns regarding whether the system fosters rehabilitation or perpetuates societal exclusion. The discussion gains even more urgency when you consider the increasing number of incarcerated individuals globally, especially in the United States, which has the highest prison population in the world. This blog unpacks the gaps and challenges in the current prison system.

Prisons were initially conceptualized to rehabilitate individuals—to help offenders reintegrate into society as productive citizens. However, the emphasis on rehabilitation has waned over time, giving way to punitive policies. Overcrowded facilities, lack of mental health services, and minimal educational or vocational training opportunities paint a grim picture of the system. Without proper tools for reintegration, a significant percentage of inmates end up reoffending. This revolving door phenomenon raises the question of whether the system is truly effective or fails its fundamental goals.

The United States penal system spends billions annually to manage its prisons, yet little of those resources go toward programs that develop skills or address behavioral health. Studies have shown that access to impactful rehabilitation programs dramatically reduces recidivism rates. Programs in certain Scandinavian countries, where the focus is on restoring human dignity alongside rehabilitation, consistently result in lower crime and reoffending rates. Comparatively, correctional policies in the U.S. seem light-years behind, geared toward isolation rather than reformation.

For many inmates, their experience within the prison walls only serves to deepen their estrangement from society. Prison life often thrusts individuals further into a cycle of dependency, where survival outweighs personal development. Beyond this, institutionalized practices in some facilities, including understaffing and budget cuts, exacerbate societal inequities many inmates face, particularly concerning race and socioeconomic status. Critics argue this environment fosters resentment and further criminal tendencies rather than growth.

Additionally, the mode of incarceration in maximum-security prisons disregards individual needs and circumstances. Labeling individuals by the magnitude of crimes rather than tailoring interventions specific to their underlying causes reduces the likelihood of guiding them toward positive societal participation. Vocational and social resilience programs are almost nonexistent in comparison to more punitive measures, such as extended sentences and solitary confinement.

Efforts toward reform are emerging, but they’re marginal. From the First Step Act in the U.S. to proposition-backed reforms in state legislatures, incremental steps aim to correct some of the injustices of a flawed system. Still, meaningful change remains elusive, requiring systemic overhauls rather than patchwork solutions. A future where prisons emphasize therapy, education, and restorative justice could change the game for millions, but it requires more than just rhetoric—it demands action.

Modern penal systems need to address these questions thoughtfully and deliberately. If the ultimate goal of incarceration is public safety, then equipping inmates with skills and mindsets to succeed upon release is not just humane—it’s practical.

Visit his official website to learn more about Hassan Nemazee’s experiences and his eye-opening exploration of these issues. There, you can also learn more about his memoir Persia, Politics & Prison, where he shares his personal story and insights into justice reform. Book him for speaking engagements to inspire change and foster discussions around progress.