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Persuasive Speech

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Persuasive Speech
Kourtney Watkins
07/31/2013
Persuasive Speech

I. Attention Step

A. Right now in the United States of America murderers, rapist, and child molesters are being set free. Prisoners are watching T.V., eating a meal, and using exercise equipment while law abiding citizens are starving and living in gutters. Prisoners even have their own periodical. Dangerous criminals are walking the streets and crime is a way of life to many Americans. In America, crime does pay because our nations prison system is not working properly.

B. Most of you may know someone who is either a family member or a friend who has committed a crime and served jail time that has gotten out and committed the same crime. Not once but twice maybe even a third time. Now what does that tell us?

C. Today I will address the prospect of prison aims to stop someone who would commit a crime and in the case of an offender serving a prison sentence, stop them from re-offending once released. Secondly, to punish those who commit serious crime. Thirdly, to encourage reform and rehabilitation of those who are sent to prison.

II. Need

First I will like to discuss…

A. The nations prison system must change because of major problems with the system such as overcrowding and the fact that early release programs do not work. So perhaps the main principle for sending people to prison is simply revenge for committing the crime; we feel they need to be punished, something that I believe is very fair. According to “Do prison’s work” by Rianon on June 17, 2013. Punishment and revenge are not the only principals behind the treatment of offenders; it goes much deeper than that.

B. This stands as in handing out sentences, perhaps tougher in some circumstances will stop the offender from re-committing crime and also others around them from following in the same footsteps. If you can scare somebody with a sentence, then are they less likely to commit a crime for fear of the consequences if they are


Cited: Green, David. Daily Mail “ Prison does work” Here’s the Proof 8 Dec 2010 Web. 17 Jul 2013. < http://nces.ed.gov/pubs94/94102.pdf> Lochner, Lance and Moretti, Enrico Book “The Effect of Education on Crime”: Evidence from Prison Inmates, Arrested and Self-Reports 23 Oct 2003 Web. 17 Jul 2013. http://emlab.berkley.edu> Web, Rianon. “ Do Prison’s Work” 17 June 2013 Web. 17 Jul 2013.
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