According to psychology.about.com, punishment refers to any change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood of that behavior repeating in the future. One of the most popular forms of punishment is prison. The purposes of detention are often cited as incapacitation and punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation, and punishment, but opinions differ regarding the relative importance and priority of each (Sinclair). As we all know, criminal justice remains a politically important issue in today's society. Some might say that prison works because it takes criminals off the streets and puts them in cells. Others, however, argue that it fails, partly because it appears to do little to prevent offenders from returning to crime soon after. So, along with incapacitation and punishment there is deterrence and rehabilitation. The idea of ​​rehabilitation through imprisonment is that a person who has been incarcerated will never be sent back to prison after being released. Unfortunately, research has consistently shown that time spent in prison fails to successfully rehabilitate most inmates, and most criminals return to a life of crime almost immediately (Rehabilitative Effects of Incarceration). Prisons are now starting to employ psychiatrists to assist criminals with psychological disorders and problems. Together with psychiatrists, prisons are creating classrooms for inmates to educate themselves while in prison. Rehabilitation of prisoners is an extremely difficult process. Teaching people useful skills requires manpower and space (stuffing). Inmates are separated from the general public and forced to live in a society with people who know crime as a way of life. It's good to see that some prisons in the United States are trying to educate inmates, but in the end they don't pay. The purpose of imprisonment in the United States is incapacitation and punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation and punishment, but they often don't seem to work. I believe the justice system should be more strict and educational. This would help remedy prison overpopulation and keep people out of prison in general. If the system threatened most Class According to CriminalLawyerIllinois.com, a class X felony in Illinois includes aggravated kidnapping; aggravated battery with a firearm; aggravated battery of a child; home invasion; aggravated criminal sexual assault; predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (over age 17 and victim under age 13); armed robbery; aggravated vehicle seizure; aggravated arson; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (such as 15-100 grams or possession with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a public park, church, school, or public building). I know it almost sounds communist and looks, but taking a more liberal look at this would be wise. The death sentence for most Class