Let punishment and treatment fit the culture

Current philosophy concerning the function of punishment of criminal offenders— incapacitation, retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation—reflects merely theoretical attempts to justify unproductive responses to criminal conduct. This article argues that punishment/ treatment should be designed to correlate with the culture of the offender. The present methods of incarceration are inadequate in the United States, where “in‐group” and ethnicity are paramount. The article looks beyond theoretical issues and examines practical alternatives for dealing with the offenders. For punishment or treatment of Criminal offenders to be effective, cultural dimensions have to be fully considered. To be appropriate, a treatment/ punishment model should demonstrate some understanding of the values and behaviors considered essential to the offenders ethnic group.